Who doesn’t appreciate a good who-dunnit mystery? They offer readers the excitement of the puzzle, the satisfaction of deduction, and an escape into a world of intrigue. For writers, they pose the challenge of intricate plotting, the joy of misdirection, and the power to manipulate emotions. Let’s explore the art of deception and discover how we can lie to our readers (and get away with it).

There are a few foundational elements to every great mystery. To begin with, you need a core crime; this will be the bedrock of your story. And while murder is a common staple, you might consider making yours exclusive, maybe with an unusual method (victim is discovered frozen solid in the middle of a sweltering summer heatwave with no apparent source of freezing nearby); or involve strange circumstances, (investigators arrive at an oddly staged crime-scene).
In my vigilante-justice thriller, Death by Hostility, I used a high-stakes scenario (a seemingly cut and dried murder investigation becomes a battle for national security with a link between the murder victims and ruthless mercenaries.) The key is to find a crime that intrigues and challenges both your characters, and the readers.
Next, you’ll need to identify the consequences therein of not solving the crime. Who are the primary individuals affected by this murder? By clearly outlining these impacts and risks, you’ll heighten the stakes of your story and give your characters a compelling reason to lean in and push forward no matter the obstacles.
To further engage your readers, introduce an initial puzzle or a question that’s immediately apparent from the crime scene or discovery. This should be something that’s obviously wrong, missing, or inexplicable. Your opening puzzle should be compelling enough to hook readers and drive your protagonist, while also setting the stage for the larger plot and conflicts to unfold.
Your victim isn’t just a body! They must be a fully realized character with a complex past. They should have a web of relationships, secrets, and potential enemies that extend beyond their death, actively driving your plot forward. To achieve this, you can map out the victim’s connections to other characters, including family, friends, colleagues, and known enemies.
These connections not only help provide a motive, but can also be a source of additional information, or misinformation, further muddying the waters of the case.
Your protagonist, (detective, investigator, or amateur sleuth) should posses a certain amount of both skills. Perhaps your police detective is a skilled interrogator, using psychological word-games to get the truth out of their suspects. Maybe you have a neuro-divergent character with an exceptionally keen eye for details, and the ability to solve intricate puzzles. Your protagonist might be a special investigator with an “alphabet agency”, trained to analyze people through profiling and reading the micro-expressions of their body language.
Regardless of how intelligent, gifted, or even lucky your protagonist may be, inherent flaws are essential. These flaws can be interwoven with the plot to create internal conflicts and influence their interactions with other characters. This adds depth and complexity, and will make your protagonist more relatable and convincing.
Does your detective not work well others? Are they sloppy in their work and personal life, or do they have a rigid, methodical approach that’s creates inflexibility and tunnel vision? Use substance abuse as a coping mechanism? Suffer from control issues? Each of these flaws serve to humanize your protagonist and to create internal conflict, and gives them to grow as a character over the course of your story.
Why is your protagonist the ideal person to solve this crime? What unique qualities, skills, or personal stakes make them the hero of this mystery? Do they feel a sense of professional duty? Or are they driven—maybe even obsessed—with solving the crime and catching the perpetrator who got away? What personal history or deep-seated drive makes them relentless in their pursuit of justice? Whether it’s a haunting past case, a personal vendetta, or a strong moral compass, these elements shape their unwavering resolve.
How does your protagonist approach their investigation? Are they by the book, or do they find order in chaos? Do they rely on logical deduction, trusting their analytical mind to piece together the clues, or do they lead by intuition, letting their gut sense the truth? Perhaps their approach includes a mix of both, along with clever interrogation techniques.
They might also have a network of close friends with special, illicit skills, such as a computer hacker, a forensic entomologist, or a street informant, who provide crucial support and insights. This diverse toolkit and their unyielding determination will help shape the story’s flow, making their journey both compelling and unpredictable.
Now it’s time to weave the web of perps and motives. Aim for at least 2-3 strong suspects, each with a plausible connection to the victim with varying levels of suspicion to keep your narrative exciting. Be sure each suspect has their own distinct personality and backstory that affect their behavior and your protagonist’s perception.
Each suspect must have clear, surface-level motives like greed, revenge, or jealousy alongside hidden, more intricate reasons for their actions. Consider giving suspects conflicting motives, where their reasons for wanting the victim harmed might clash, deepening the complexity of both their character, and the plot. The interplay of these layered, but sometimes contradictory motives will help create a more complex and realistic web of suspicion.
Give each suspect a plausible alibi, even if it’s ultimately false. By providing each suspect with an alibi, you introduce reasonable doubt into the case. When breaking these alibis, consider four key factors: inconsistencies between suspect statements and physical evidence, timeline discrepancies, witness coercion or bias, and contradictions with forensic findings. To effectively manage alibis, mete them out strategically to avoid immediate suspicion. Introduce them gradually through dialogue or discoveries (show don’t tell), and maintain consistency by tracking each suspect’s alibi.
Be sure your suspect’s opportunity to commit the crime isn’t only feasible, but is logically connected to their motive. Confirm that the suspect could physically reach the crime scene at the relevant time, which might involve keys, security codes, or simply being in the vicinity. Your suspect must be close enough to the crime scene within the timeline of the event, which can be established through witness accounts, digital tracking, or their own alibi. They must possess the skills, and/or knowledge to pull off the crime. Be sure to match the complexity of your crime with the suspect’s capabilities.
Aligning opportunity with motive creates a convincing narrative where each suspect’s potential guilt is supported by both why they might want to commit the crime, and how they could have physically done it.
Practice the art of misdirection. Subtly integrate genuine clues within your story through physical items (a muddy shoe print in an otherwise clean room, suggesting an intruder), varied witness accounts (a neighbor hears a car backfire around the time of the crime, which could actually have been a gunshot), or indirect suggestions (a character’s internet search history in context to the crime). These clues are accessible to the reader, allowing them the chance to piece together the puzzle just as the protagonist does.
Red herrings are intentionally misleading clues that divert attention from the true culprit. They should logically emerge from the plot or character behavior, not only to mislead but to enrich the story, compelling your readers to question every detail, while strategically drawing their focus away from the actual solution. But don’t force a red herring if it doesn’t work! Ultimately, red herrings should serve the story, not the other way around. If a potential red herring doesn’t align with the plot or characters, it’s better to discard it.
You might also integrate subplots that connect to your core crime. These should be woven through your narrative, either shedding light on characters or misleading the reader. Does your protagonist’s personal struggle with a past case parallel their current investigation? Maybe a romantic subplot could distract from the main suspect if one of the love interests has secrets tied to the crime. A subplot involving corruption in the local police force could echo themes of trust and betrayal central to solving the main crime. These subplots should intersect with your main plot at key moments, either providing clues or complicating the story, all the while keeping readers engaged, and deducing.
Choose between a linear timeline, or a non-chronological approach that best serves the unfolding of your mystery. Pace your narrative by carefully timing the disclosure of clues and developments. Intersperse high-action investigation scenes with moments of character or plot contemplation. I end every chapter with a cliffhanger that keeps my readers hooked and turning the page long into the night.
It’s time for the big reveal and resolution! Craft your conclusion to deliver that “Aha!” moment, where the solution feels both surprising and inevitable. Be sure it follows logically from the clues you’ve scattered throughout the story. The explanation should be thorough, with your protagonist explaining how each clue fits into the now-complete puzzle. This will give your readers both the clarity, and satisfaction they deserve.
Wrangle those loose ends and put ‘em in a bow. Ensure all of your subplots and character arcs have concluded. Confirm that each suspect’s motives are logical and align with their actions. End your story by showing the aftermath of the mystery’s resolution, reflecting on how it affects every character.
Be sure to avoid deus ex machina, solutions where unexpected or previously unmentioned elements resolve the plot. Keep the game fair by not hiding vital clues from the reader that the detective is privy to. Ensure all deductions are logical and stem from evidence previously revealed. Aim for complexity that challenges but doesn’t confuse. Keep your plot threads coherent.
You’ve now mastered the art of deception and are ready to pen your mystery! Remember to balance complexity with clarity, misdirect fairly, and intrigue with satisfaction. With these foundational elements and expert techniques, you can now craft a mystery that’ll keep readers guessing until the very end. Now, go forth and plot your next whodunit!
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