eMysteries Toolkit

The European Commission's support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. [Project Number: 2019-1-DE03-KA201-060127] 14 In the detective story, the planning and execution of the crime are in the past. The reader has equal opportunity with the detective for solving the mystery, and this adds to its allure for readers. All clues are plainly stated and described. For a long time it is unclear who the perpetrator is. The motivation for the reader is to follow the detective and to participate in the suspense. A detective story like this is called Whodunit (Who has done it?). In the end the reader is surprised that the character he least suspected is the perpetrator of the deed. The better known, classic whodunits are the stories of “Sherlock Holmes” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and “Miss Marple” or “Murder on the Orient Express” by Agatha Christie. The Mystery Plot The chief element of a detective story is a mysterious disappearance or crime: art theft or art forgery, kidnapping, extortion or murder. Often the conditions of the crime are mysterious or so unexplained that they cannot be cleared up by the police and a detective must be consulted. The details are concealed from the detective and the reader until the end. For the reader, the mysterious story is integrated into a theme that constantly crops up and runs through the whole plot. An attractive topic is for example a specific professional environment, a social milieu, a historical event, an interest group, an anniversary, a typical person. Setting A setting is the place where the mysterious story begins or takes place. It is important for the atmosphere of the story. The arrest of a perpetrator will take a different turn in an office than in a horse farm the surroundings are different, the smells and sounds are different. The atmosphere of the setting provides a good framework for the story and the plot described in it. In addition, an unusually varied and fascinating setting is a helpful addition to the story's suspense.