Did the butler do it?
For armchair detectives engrossed in an exciting new mystery novel, the worst thing in the world is for a friend or acquaintance to spill the beans and unmask the villain before the reader reaches the final chapter. Perhaps even worse, though, is the reviewer who blabs all of the secrets before the book is even purchased and, thus, kills a potential sale for its author. While there are obviously individuals who like to read the endings of books first so as not to be disturbed by unsettling revelations, the majority of people who enjoy mysteries want to be surprised. Therein is the challenge of critics to whet the appetite for adventure but not spoil the chase.
Instructions
1. Hook the reader with a compelling first line. Just like the author of the mystery you're critiquing, the objective of your review is to make a daring opening statement or serve up a provocative question that will grab the readers' attention and make them curious to read on.
Examples:
"For all the times Marla Hughes observed the ritual of checking behind the shower curtain whenever she checked into a hotel, she never actually expected to find someone lurking there."
"How much do you really know about the babysitter who watches your children?"
"The President of the United States isn't the only one with skeletons in his closet."
2. Identify the protagonist of the story. If the mystery is part of a series, this could be a recurring character such as a detective, a lawyer, a doctor or a novelist like J.B. Fletcher from "Murder, She Wrote" who keeps being in the right place at the right time to assist with investigations. If it's a stand-alone novel, the protagonist could be a friend, relative or neighbor of the deceased or maybe even the individual who has been wrongly accused of the crime and must clear her name. Briefly talk about the lead character's personality, profession and how she came to be in this situation.
3. Tell us what crime has occurred, be it a murder, kidnapping, blackmail, burglary, robbery, embezzlement or identity theft. Describe the backdrop of the story's action as well as the era in which it takes place. If, for example, a kidnapping occurs late at night in a fog-shrouded Victorian railway station, you're painting an effective visual to get readers thinking about the sights, sounds and smells associated with the scene of the crime.
4. Reference some of the other characters in the novel but only if you can do so without tipping your hand and supplying readers with enough clues to make an educated guess. The best way to test this is to show the draft of your review to several friends who haven't yet read the novel and ask them who they think the villain is. Another good strategy is to frame the bad guy in such a way that he sounds like a helpmate to the protagonist.
Example:
"When wealthy art dealer Derek Velasquez enlists aspiring painter Casey Hancock's assistance in cataloguing his latest acquisitions, she's on Cloud 9. Someone is definitely out to rain on her parade, however, when an attempt on her mentor's life leaves the gallery minus its most valuable portrait."
5. Mention other books the author has written and how you believe this latest work compares to them. If there's an interesting biographical tidbit you think would add to the readers' enjoyment of the story, include that as well.
Example:
"Morgan's breathtaking descriptions of Chinese architecture and landscapes come from the decade she spent in Manchuria as the housekeeper to a high-ranking diplomat."
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