A Magician's Agreement with the Audience: Stipulations for Crafting a Mystery Novel
In the world of whodunnits, the game of detective fiction has been governed by a set of rules that ensure fairness and logical consistency for readers. These rules, first proposed by S.S. Van Dine and Ronald Knox in 1928, have stood the test of time and continue to influence modern authors.
One such contemporary author is Hazell Ward, who has shown a keen interest in adhering to the rules set out by Van Dine and Knox in their works, "Twenty Rules for Writing Detective Stories" and "The Detective Story Decalogue".
The rules, at their core, emphasise fair play between the author and the reader. Clues must be accessible, and all suspects must have a motive. Red herrings and suspect deception are allowed, but the detective's reasoning must rely solely on the clues provided. The culprit must be a known suspect, not a minor character who appears briefly without suspicion.
Ward's approach to these rules is to maintain a balance between subtlety and detectability. In her novel, "The Game is Murder", she experimented with the idea of providing all clues openly to the reader at the beginning of the novel, raising the question: can the detective still solve the case before the reader, even with all the clues being openly provided?
Contrary to the common misdirection technique often seen in whodunnits, Ward points out the significance of each clue in "The Game is Murder". She does not try to deceive the reader but rather invites them to engage cognitively with the story.
In contrast, the famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, withholds his working theories from his assistant and the reader in "The Sign of Four". This technique, known as the delay technique, adds to the suspense and tension in the story.
The rules also allow for the production of the key clue to be delayed until later in the story. In "The Game is Murder", the significant clue is hidden among a load of innocent, but more memorable, objects (Concealment technique).
Modern authors like Ward respect the classic demand for readers to have a reasonable chance to solve the mystery but update the style and character complexity for contemporary tastes. This often involves layered clues and red herrings handled skillfully so the reader engages cognitively without feeling tricked.
One of the most renowned whodunnits of all time, Agatha Christie's "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd", was published in 1926. While both sets of rules seem to suggest that Christie's novel may have broken a rule, the specific rule remains unmentioned due to a major spoiler. However, it is clear that the culprit in a whodunnit must be someone who has been identified as a suspect and is not disguised as an insignificant character.
In conclusion, the rules established by Van Dine and Knox have shaped the whodunnit genre by mandating accessible clues, known suspects with motives, and logical deduction. Modern authors like Hazell Ward continue to follow these principles, carefully managing clue disclosure and red herrings to create intellectually satisfying and solvable mysteries. Readers want to be deceived in whodunnit novels, but they also want to feel that they could have solved the case themselves. The author's promise to show all clues and solve the case before the reader does, and it is for the reader to decide whether the author has met the terms of that contract.
The intriguing novel "The Game is Murder" by Hazell Ward challenges traditional detective story conventions by offering all clues at the beginning, inviting readers to solve the mystery before the detective, proving that adhering to the rules need not mean sticking to the status quo. Meanwhile, in the realm of serial killer narratives, books like those by legendary authors such as Thomas Harris, who crafted the famous character Hannibal Lecter, offer a captivating blend of horror, intrigue, and entertainment, captivating readers who crave both a thrilling escape and a chance to intellectually engage with the narrative.
