Mystery Mystery BooktalkBooktalk

Mystery Mystery GenreGenre

What is a genre? What is a genre?

What is fiction?What is fiction?

What is a mystery?What is a mystery?

What is a What is a genre?genre?

Type of fictionType of fiction

What is What is Fiction?Fiction?

A story that is not real.A story that is not real. An invention of your imagination.An invention of your imagination.

What is a What is a Mystery?Mystery?

A genre that:A genre that: Usually involves a crimeUsually involves a crime Sometimes includes a dead bodySometimes includes a dead body Sometimes involves a missing personSometimes involves a missing person Has a puzzle to solveHas a puzzle to solve The puzzle is solved by a detective or The puzzle is solved by a detective or

amateur sleuthamateur sleuth

Elements of a Elements of a MysteryMystery

SuspenseSuspense Person in troublePerson in trouble Locked RoomLocked Room Odd CharactersOdd Characters Unexplained events/puzzling Unexplained events/puzzling

CircumstancesCircumstances SecrecySecrecy DisappearancesDisappearances

Types of Types of MysteriesMysteries

CozyCozy Amateur SleuthsAmateur Sleuths Accidental InvestigatorsAccidental Investigators Professional SleuthsProfessional Sleuths Historical MysteriesHistorical Mysteries Ghosts and GothicGhosts and Gothic

Cozy MysteriesCozy Mysteries

BloodlessBloodless Although a body or murder may be Although a body or murder may be

included.included.

Examples:Examples: Cam Jansen MysteriesCam Jansen Mysteries The Chet Gecko MysteriesThe Chet Gecko Mysteries

Amateur Amateur SleuthsSleuths

The person who enjoys solving a The person who enjoys solving a mystery but doesn’t get paid for his mystery but doesn’t get paid for his or her services.or her services.

Examples:Examples: Nancy DrewNancy Drew Hardy BoysHardy Boys The Three InvestigatorsThe Three Investigators

Accidental Accidental InvestigatorsInvestigators

Person who enjoys solving a mystery Person who enjoys solving a mystery but doesn’t seek out a mystery.but doesn’t seek out a mystery.

Examples:Examples: The Pet-Sitting PerilThe Pet-Sitting Peril The Chet Gecko SeriesThe Chet Gecko Series

Professional Professional SleuthsSleuths

A person who solves mysteries for his A person who solves mysteries for his or her job.or her job.

Examples:Examples: The Dark Stairs – Betsy ByarsThe Dark Stairs – Betsy Byars Agatha Christie MysteriesAgatha Christie Mysteries

Historical Historical MysteriesMysteries

Takes place in the past.Takes place in the past. Can involve time travel.Can involve time travel. Sometimes brings in real life Sometimes brings in real life

historical characters.historical characters.

Examples:Examples: The Roman MysteriesThe Roman Mysteries Qwerty Stevens MysteriesQwerty Stevens Mysteries

Ghosts and Ghosts and GothicGothic

May include ghosts, supernatural May include ghosts, supernatural elements or horror.elements or horror.

Often take place in old houses or Often take place in old houses or areas where horrible things have areas where horrible things have happened.happened.

Examples:Examples: Meg Mackintosh MysteriesMeg Mackintosh Mysteries

Tips to Tips to Remember!Remember!

Always use the five finger rule.Always use the five finger rule. Don’t judge a book by its cover.Don’t judge a book by its cover.

A mystery should grab you from the A mystery should grab you from the very first page.very first page.

Happy Happy Sleuthing!Sleuthing!

To Sum up the Mystery Genre:To Sum up the Mystery Genre: Mysteries are usually fiction.Mysteries are usually fiction. Mysteries include a variety of elements.Mysteries include a variety of elements. Mysteries come in all different types.Mysteries come in all different types.

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