The Technique of the Mystery Story

Carolyn Wells’ The Technique of the Mystery Story is a comprehensive guide to writing mystery stories. It covers all aspects of the genre, from the basics of plot structure and character development to the finer points of suspense and surprise. Wells provides detailed advice on how to create believable characters, craft compelling plots, and build suspense. She also offers tips on how to write effective dialogue and create believable settings. The book also includes a selection of classic mystery stories to illustrate the techniques discussed. The Technique of the Mystery Story is an invaluable resource for aspiring mystery writers.

By Carolyn Wells · First published 1913 · Genre: Mystery, Crime Fiction, Thriller · 60 chapters · 93,431 words

First lines

Why is the detective story? To entertain, to interest, to amuse. It has no deeper intent, no more subtle raison d'être than to give pleasure to its readers.

It has been argued that its "awful examples" (sometimes very awful! ), are meant as cautionary pictures to restrain a possible bent toward the commission of crime. It is held by some that the habit of analytical and synthetical reasoning, requisite to appreciate the solving of these fictional mysteries, is of value in training the mind to logical and correct modes of thinking; the practical application of which, in the everyday affairs of life, proves a valuable asset in the worldly struggle for success.

• Open reader

What this Textopian page supports

The Technique of the Mystery Story is listed on Textopian as an essay by Carolyn Wells, dated 1913 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Essay
• Author: Carolyn Wells
• Date: 1913 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Mystery, Crime Fiction, Thriller, Literary Fiction
• Length: 93,431 words
• Structure: 122 chapters, 1,473 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Technique of the Mystery Story by Carolyn Wells
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
• Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Similar titles

• The Puzzler B by Rudyard Kipling
• The Magic Casket by R. Austin Freeman
• The Boss Of Taroomba by E. W. Hornung
• The Excursion Boat by Carolyn Wells
• A Serious Question by Carolyn Wells
• Inside The Lines by Earl Derr Biggers

Genres

• Mystery — The title of the book is 'The Technique of the Mystery Story', indicating that the book is about the genre of mystery.
• Crime Fiction — Mystery stories often involve crime, so crime fiction is a relevant genre for this book.
• Thriller — Mystery stories often involve suspense and tension, so thriller is a relevant genre for this book.
• Literary Fiction — Carolyn Wells is a well-known author, so literary fiction is a relevant genre for this book.

Tags

mystery · writing · technique · fiction · literature · storytelling · plot · character development · suspense · narrative · detective · crime

Contents

• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: Inquisition Into the Curious is Universal
• Chapter 3: Early Riddles
• Chapter 4: The Passion for Solving Mysteries
• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: The Rightful Place of the Mystery Story in Fiction
• Chapter 3: The Mystery Story Considered as Art
• Chapter 4: The Claims of Antagonists and Protagonists
• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: Ancient Mystery Tales
• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: A Working Classification
• Chapter 3: The Ghost Story
• Chapter 4: Famous Ghost Stories
• Chapter 5: The Humorous Ghost Story
• Chapter 1: Some Notable Riddle Stories
• Chapter 2: The Nature of the Riddle Story and Its Types
• Chapter 1: What is a Detective Story
• Chapter 2: Rise of the Detective Story
• Chapter 3: The Detective-fictive and Real
• Chapter 4: Fiction Versus Fact
• Chapter 5: The Interest of the Detective Story
• Chapter 6: A Summing Up
• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: The Real Detective and His Work
• Chapter 3: Fictive Detective Material
• Chapter 4: The Transcendent Detective
• Chapter 5: Pioneer Detectives of Fiction
• Chapter 6: Recent Detectives of Fiction
• Chapter 7: The Scientific Detective of Fiction
• Chapter 8: The New Psychology in Detective Stories
• Chapter 9: Other Types
• Chapter 1: Ratiocination in Early Detective Stories
• Chapter 2: Deduction Used in Every-day Life
• Chapter 3: The Analytical Element in the Detective Story
• Chapter 4: Poe's Detective--the Prototype
• Chapter 5: The Detective in the Novel
• Chapter 1: The Detectives of Poe, Doyle, and Gaboriau
• Chapter 2: Individuality of These Detectives
• Chapter 3: The Real Sherlock Holmes
• Chapter 1: Sherlock Holmes' Method
• Chapter 2: Lecoq's Method
• Chapter 3: Other Methods
• Chapter 4: Holmes' Method Evaluated
• Chapter 5: The Inductive and the Deductive Methods
• Chapter 6: Two Striking Examples
• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: The Search for Clues
• Chapter 3: The Bizarre in Crime
• Chapter 4: The Value of the Trivial
• Chapter 5: The Tricks of Imitation
• Chapter 1: Some Original Traits
• Chapter 2: Two Unique Detectives
• Chapter 1: Some Early Detective Portraits
• Chapter 2: Some More Modern Portraits
• Chapter 3: Some Less Known Portraits
• Chapter 4: Idiosyncrasies of Fictional Detectives
• Chapter 5: Favorite Phrases of Detectives
• Chapter 1: Snow and Rain
• Chapter 2: Some Particularly Hackneyed Devices

More by Carolyn Wells

• The White Alley (1915)
• Rubáiyát of a Motor Car (1906)
• The Gold Bag (1906)
• Patty's Butterfly Days (1927)
• Marjories's Vacation (1920)
• Raspberry Jam (1924)
• Patty's Suitors (1920)
• Patty in Paris (1920)
• All works by Carolyn Wells