In episode 243, “Write a Mystery 104: Suspects, Clues, & Red Herrings,” Meredith Curtis talks about those ingredients that make a mystery fun. Mystery writers, it’s time to create suspects and all those clues that lead the detective and reader to unmask the criminal, and the red herrings that lead them astray. In a classic who dun it, the writer keeps the reader guessing until the end. That requires motive, means, and opportunity. While super fun, it also requires careful plotting out so that you reader can solve a puzzle along with your detective.

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Crime committed, usually a murder. Clues & red herrings followed by detective & readers who try their hardest to guess the perpetrator. At the end of the story, justice is served.

Characters should always be well-rounded.

The Real Murderer’s identity isn’t revealed until the end of the book.

Other Suspects must have motive, means, opportunity, too.

Victim – why would someone kill him/her?

Show not Tell.

Don’t tell us about your characters when you write, show us. It is better for a writer to show your readers your characters, their personalities, and their emotions through dialogue or actions.

• Scared
• Pain
• Sad
• Cold
• Angry

Relationships (and hidden ones too)

Your reader wants to solve the mystery with your detective. You will plant clues for your detective to discover right along with your reader.

Clues reveal information about the murderer, the crime, the motives for murder, and the character of the victim and suspects.

A clue brings the detective and reader closer to solving the mystery. A red herring leads the detective and reader in the wrong direction or to the wrong suspect. That’s the only difference.

Your cozy mystery will be filled with clues and red herrings that lead the detective and reader on a wild goose chase. Sometimes the murderer will plant false clues (red herrings) to lead the detective in another direction away from himself.

Who will solve the mystery first?

Clues can be hard to come up with when you first start writing a cozy mystery.

List of clues/red herrings that you can use in your story. (you’ll have to listen to get it)

For step-by-step help in creating your own murder mystery, grab your copy of Who Dun It Murder Mystery Literature & Writing Volume II by Meredith Curtis

Who Dun It Murder Mystery Literature & Writing Volume II by Meredith Curtis is a one-credit high school English course.

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Maggie & Matt King move to Hopeville, Virginia so Matt can go to seminary, studying to be a pastor. Maggie is a SAHM to Bethany (and more children to come) but finds time to stumble across dead bodies and unmask the murderer. Eventually, Maggie will homeschool her children and enjoy her role as a pastor’s wife. But she doesn’t stop solving mysteries. Enjoy her adventures. Wholesome Christian Cozy Mysteries.

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