The Five Essential Elements of a
Mystery
A mystery is a story that has five basic but important elements.
These five components are: the characters, the setting, the plot, the problem, and
the solution. These essential elements keep the story running smoothly and allow
the clues to the solution of the mystery to be revealed in a logical way that the
reader can follow.
Characters
The characters are the individuals that the story is about. The author should
introduce the characters in the story with enough information that the reader can
visualize each person. This is achieved by providing detailed descriptions of a
character’s physical attributes and personality traits. Every story should have a
main character.
The main character determines the way the plot or mystery will develop and is
usually the person who will solve the problem the story centers upon. However,
the other characters are also very important because they can provide clues to
solve the mystery or they may even try to throw the main character (and the
reader!) off track. All characters should stay true to the author’s description throughout the story so
that the reader can understand and believe the action that is taking place—and
perhaps even predict which character may do what next.
Setting
The setting is the location of the action. An author should describe the
environment or surroundings of the mystery in such detail that the reader feels
that he or she can picture the scene. Unusual settings (such as a fantasy world)
can be interesting, but everyday settings can help a reader to better visualize the
story.
It can be especially fun to use a familiar setting for a mystery so that the reader
feels even more connected to the plot!
Plot
The plot is the actual story around which the entire book is based. A plot should
have a very clear beginning, middle and end—with all the necessary descriptions
and suspense—so that the reader can make sense of the action and follow along
from start to finish.
Problem
Every mystery has a problem to solve, usually who committed a crime and why.
Authors should fill mystery stories with clues, so that the reader can try to solve
the puzzle along with the characters. Sometimes, an author may insert a false clue
just to throw the character (and reader) off.
Solution
The solution to the problem is the way the action is resolved—finding a missing
item or the person who stole it, for example. It is important that the solution be
believable. Authors must be sure to include all the clues necessary for finding the
solution in the story somewhere (even if they are hidden very sneakily!).
Five Essential Elements of a Mystery
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