The Art of Plotting: How Mystery Novels Keep Readers Guessing
This article will give you a deeper understanding of the art of plotting and how it keeps readers guessing until the very end.
Red herrings
These false clues or characters are designed to divert attention away from the real culprit, and they can be used in a variety of ways.
Red herrings
It’s important to note that the use of red herrings should be done carefully and not to the point of frustrating the reader.
Multiple suspects
The inclusion of multiple suspects is a crucial technique used by mystery writers to keep readers guessing.
Multiple suspects
The use of multiple suspects also allows readers to form their own theories and test them against the evidence presented in the story.
Twist endings
It’s a moment where the story takes a sudden and unexpected turn, completely changing the readers’ perception of what they thought they knew.
Twist endings
The twist ending can be used to add an element of surprise and shock to the story, leaving the reader with a sense of awe and satisfaction.
Complex plot
The more intricate the plot, the more challenging it becomes for readers to predict the outcome, making the story more engaging and satisfying.
Complex plot
Complex plots often involve multiple subplots, twists, and turns that keep the reader guessing and engaged.
Unreliable narrators
An unreliable narrator is a character whose perspective is distorted or biased, which can be used to mislead readers, creating a sense of uncertainty and unpredictability.
Unreliable narrators
The use of an unreliable narrator can be used to create a sense of ambiguity, as the reader may not be able to trust the narrator’s account of events.