The recipe for a perfect afternoon… A cup of tea. A cushy chair. A quiet house. And a good book. Not just any good book, but a whodunit in an addictive mystery series. If you’re a mystery lover, nothing makes your heart pitter-patter more than playing detective.
And who isn’t a mystery lover?
When you’re a kid, everything’s a mystery. And great mysteries sparked my curiosity at a young age. What happened to the dinosaurs? Is the Hope Diamond really cursed? How can I keep the story going in my Choose-Your-Own-Adventure book as long as possible?
But it was real life that cinched my mystery love. An overnight robbery at my parents’ convenience store. After an early morning wake-up call from the police, my father woke me. “Want to go with me to the store? There’s been a break-in.”
I only jumped out of bed that fast on Christmas morning.
We arrived to police cars in the parking lot and yellow tape circling the front doors. The policeman met us at the car, notebook in hand, and gave us a crime scene tour. The smashed front window marked the perp’s entry point. Climbing into the store, the perp sliced his upper leg, leaving a trail of blood inside. He grabbed a cash lockbox and cigarettes—but not the gauze or bandages on aisle three. He didn’t even think to apply pressure to the wound with one of the many bar towels kept behind the counter for cleaning.
A criminal mastermind… he was not.
Outside, he sat down with his bounty to pry the box open. Both the box and the stolen cigarettes (left behind) were covered in blood. The officer led us around the building, pointing out the blood trail, now marked with yellow numbers.
“The blood trail stops down the road,” he explained, “where a vehicle picked him up. He’s at the hospital for the injury sustained while breaking and entering. He’s under arrest.”
Though the mystery had been solved before we arrived… and perhaps, quicker than any case in history thanks to the robber’s carelessness… hearing the officer explain it and following the criminal’s movements filled me with excitement.
And I’ve loved mysteries ever since. So much so that I just finished writing my own series. The Delilah Duffy Mystery Series concluded this week with releasing the fifth and final book, Odd-a-Sea.
Writing mysteries, figuring out crimes and clues, giving readers just enough but not too much information, and building suspense between the crime solver and the criminals… ah, loving a mystery series reached a new level. It’s true love.
My ten-year journey with the Delilah Duffy Mysteries has been both a sweet romance and a heartbreaker. I’ve become a better writer, but the hard way, fixing my mistakes after I’ve made them. I’ve gotten cozy with my cozy mysteries, fine-tuning my formula and growing comfortable with the characters. But knowing it had to end. Not just because I want to write other books but also because my writing business requires it. Diversifying increases my chance of success, which Delilah hasn’t given me yet.
It’s a heartbreaker ending such a long relationship, but who knows? We may have a mysterious reunion someday.
If you’re looking for a great mystery series to fall in love with, try mine. Or any of my recommendations at shepherd.org. I’m also a forever fan of mystery classics. Agatha Christie’s Poirot and Miss Marple. Sir Author Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. On Britbox, I’m a recent fangirl of Vera and Shetland. And always, Midsomer Murders. These are all excellent case studies in narrowing down suspects, analyzing evidence, and murder.
If you plan on writing one, stay tuned for upcoming blogs like Series Writing: Pros & Cons. Ten years with Delilah Duffy has given me a strenuous education.
For now, though, a series always begins with an idea. And a mystery series should begin with a detective.
Those in law enforcement or its periphery are obvious choices to lead a mystery series. Some I’ve enjoyed are…
- A detective/profiler in James Patterson’s Alex Cross Series.
- A Chief Medical Examiner in Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta Series
- A Journalist in LynDee Walker’s Nichelle Clarke Crime Thriller Series
- A bounty hunter in Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum Series
- A Detective, Journalist, Medical Examiner, and Lawyer in James Patterson’s Women’s Murder Club Series
Insight and experience with such professions give crime writers a serious leg-up in mystery writing. These types of mystery series will always have a home with fans. For good reason.
Not so obvious, though, are the amateur detectives. Shop owners are a popular choice amongst cozy writers like me. Delilah Duffy manages a bookstore. My article at shepherd.org highlights other amateur detectives I’ve enjoyed lately, particularly writers.
And feeling so many love vibes over mysteries in general, and for the end of my own, I brainstormed a list of amateur detectives I’d like to see (or write about) in a future mystery series. Perhaps one of these idea-fairies will latch on to you.
- A convenience store clerk is so sick of being robbed that she becomes a vigilante detective. (Convenience stores are the fourth highest crime locale and the highest business to make the list).
- A librarian, desperate for more excitement in her life, “studies” patrons based on book choices and habits. When her nosiness leads her beyond the library, she bumbles into more than she bargained for.
- A crime groupie, known to “create” cases, accidentally becomes involved in a real one. Only she doesn’t see it as a case at first. A funny and ironic twist, she ignores the case right in front of her until she can’t any longer.
- A good Samaritan, like the motorist who picked up our bleeding convenience store robber, always does the right thing, but her helpful spirit often puts her in danger.
- A conscientious bus driver, delivery person, or postal worker knows the neighborhood and people’s habits as well as she knows her route. So when things aren’t right, she must step in.
- It could also be a conscientious delivery person with illusions of grandeur, putting herself equal to the police. “We are all civil servants, protecting and serving.”
- A teacher detective uses science and info from her students to help solve local crimes. Why hasn’t this been done yet?
- A park ranger or worker adores the green space she’s paid to protect and will go to any lengths to keep it safe, even solving crimes committed on it. Parks are the tenth most likely places for crime, by the way.
- A janitor or maid sees all without being seen, perfect for an underdog crime solver. More Maid-Inspired story ideas here. And read a recent favorite, The Maid by Nita Prose. It’s soooooo goooooood.
- A graphic novelist struggling with insomnia wanders the city streets at night. Her long walks inspire her work and put her in precarious situations. Here are some writing tips from Graphic Novels.
- A food truck or coffee cart operator might be a good witness to a crime. And a good snoop.
- A nurse, orderly, or nurse’s assistant might witness strange goings-on at a hospital, treatment center, or doctor’s office, and it might put her job at risk if she speaks out, especially without evidence. Here are more story ideas in hospitals.
- A precocious paperboy/girl, Boy Scout, or Girl Scout would make a fun neighborhood sleuth.
- A person in technical support often works across the building, putting her in a perfect position to witness and overhear things she shouldn’t. Also, technical expertise provides a mystery-solving bonus.
- A speed dating organizer or owner of a match-making company would have to know people well to do her job. Being a personality expert, she’d pick up on clues others wouldn’t. And speed dating might put her in fun, interesting places.
- A mall security guard takes her job seriously (though others do not). Buckling down on mall shoplifting puts her smack dab in the middle of a major case with organized crime and trafficking.
- A bank teller catches law enforcement’s attention when her shrewd observations lead them to catch a bank robber only minutes after he committed the robbery. Desperate for new perspectives, she’s asked to join a cold case team with retired law enforcement and hand-picked community members.
- An AI project in development leads to a surprising revelation—the program answers crime questions like a seasoned criminal. Seeing its potential, the lead programmer approaches law enforcement about collaborating. Only she’s met with resistance. (This may be my favorite idea given how much I’ve been using Dall-E lately. It’s an AI that creates images based on the information I give it. AI’s the future, people.)
Hmm, maybe I should consult #ChatGPT on how to get more blog subscribers and Delilah Duffy fans…
Share your mystery series love below. Book recommendations, favorite reading nooks, writing ideas, thoughts on AI, anything.
For more on writing and positivity, check out my blog. And spread your love of a good mystery series by trying mine. You can get Sea-Devil for free by subscribing.
