May is Mystery Month. This is a guide to demystify the many subgenres classified under the broad category of “mystery.”
There can be a bit of overlap among these, but the main sub genres are listed below.
Classic Detective
Popular in the 1930s, these novels typically feature a murder, a group of suspects with motives, and a detective who solves the case using clues and logic. Authors in this category include Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Patricia Wentworth.
Hard-Boiled
Hard-boiled mysteries, often referred to as “Noir,” feature an objective viewpoint, impersonal tone, violence, colloquial speech, tough characters, and understated style. Writers include Robert B. Parker, Lawrence Block, and Sue Grafton.
Cozy Mysteries
Readers of cozies prefer them because they are not very graphic in terms of violence or sensuality. The person that solves the crime does not have to be an official police detective and the setting is usually in a closed, intimate community. Authors of cozies include Joanne Fluke, Diane Mott Davidson, and Rita Mae Brown.
Standard Private Eye
Private investigators are hired to solve a crime. Classics PI’s are Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot, Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe, and Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes.
Thrillers
Different from a classic mystery, thrillers often feature the villain as a point-of-view character. Thrillers play on the emotions of the audience as they build tension and focus on pace. Popular authors of thrillers are James Patterson, Lee Child, and David Baldacci.
Police Procedural
Usually the protagonist of a procedural is a police detective or a team of detectives trying to catch a very clever villain. Many times the narrative will switch back a forth between the detective and the antagonist’s view point. These include story arcs about serial killers, forensics, or stalkers. Authors of procedurals include Jeffrey Deaver, Louise Penny, and Thomas Harris.
We are featuring mysteries on one of our displays this month and have many to choose from in our fiction, large print, audio, and paperback collections. Stop in and find a great one to read. We are always here to help direct you to a book or author you are looking for.
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Post by Susie Rivera, Reference Specialist
