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1.Writing Mysteries from: Writers Digest Books April 22, 2002
Average Rating: >>More Details		List Price: $16.99 Off The Bookshelf's Price: $11.55 You Save: $5.44 (32%) Prices subject to change. Used Price: $2.50
I used this book as a way to refresh my perspective on a mystery novel after finishing a second draft. I highlighted perhaps a dozen relevant/useful passages in the entire 300-page book. There are a handful of interesting ideas, but the biggest challenge I encountered is that the quality of the advice is entirely dependent on the author of each chapter - so, if what you want to learn about happens to have been written about by an average advice-giver, you're out of luck. For a better treatment - more concise and productive, and of better quality throughout - consider Hallie Ephron's "Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel."

2.Don't Murder Your Mystery [Agatha Award for Best Nonfiction Book] by: Chris Roerden April 30, 2006
Average Rating: >>More Details		List Price: $17.95 Off The Bookshelf's Price: $16.15 You Save: $1.80 (10%) Prices subject to change. Used Price: $11.25
I stumbled upon this book when it was recommended to me by a writer friend. What a refreshing and helpful book! It's clearly written and fun to read--and the advice is spot on. If you are pondering which of the many mystery writer's guides out there you should buy--include this one for sure. You won't be sorry. The author also has a similar book that speaks to a more general writing audience ("Don't Sabotage Your Submission")--check that one out if you're not a mystery writer but want solid tips for making your manuscript the best ever.

3.Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel by: Hallie Ephron September 01, 2005
Average Rating: >>More Details		List Price: $16.99 Off The Bookshelf's Price: $11.55 You Save: $5.44 (32%) Prices subject to change. Used Price: $4.04
I bought this book because I recently had an idea for a historical romance with a strong mystery/suspense plot. I've never tried to write a full-on mystery before and I felt intimidated. The idea of having multiple suspects and subplots and dropping (and hiding clues) felt overwhelming to me. When I looked through the books offered on Amazon for mystery writing, I saw many reviews that said the books were less about mystery writing and more about writing in general, which was not what I wanted. I already own books on writing and I've studied writing, so I just wanted a book to explain the particulars of the mystery genre. This book was perfect. The book is divided into four main sections: Planning, Writing, Revising, and Selling Your Mystery Novel. Each section includes ... Read More

4.The Weekend Novelist Writes A Mystery by: Robert J. Ray April 06, 1998
Average Rating: >>More Details		List Price: $15.00 Off The Bookshelf's Price: $10.20 You Save: $4.80 (32%) Prices subject to change. Used Price: $4.50
This seems to be a very well conceived and helpful book. It has a detailed plan for taking one from a blank page to a finished novel in a year's time. I haven't read through the whole book yet. NOR have I worked through many exercises yet, but found the first several exercises very helpful. Already my characters are coming to life. I expect great things in the weeks ahead.

5.How to Write a Damn Good Mystery: A Practical Step-by-Step Guide from Inspiration to Finished Manuscript by: James N. Frey February 12, 2004
Average Rating: >>More Details		List Price: $23.95 Off The Bookshelf's Price: $16.29 You Save: $7.66 (32%) Prices subject to change. Used Price: $4.08
This is a good basic guide to writing a mystery from inspiration to book signings. The instructional side of things is enlivened by showing a mystery novel in the making--"Murder in Montana"--which puts an interesting spin on the process. Frey has a nice, easy style and uses humor to good effect. For the student/writer of mystery fiction, I would also recommend How to Write a Mystery by Larry Beinhart.

6.How to Write Killer Fiction: The Funhouse of Mystery & the Roller Coaster of Suspense by: Carolyn Wheat 2003-03
Average Rating: >>More Details		List Price: $13.95 Off The Bookshelf's Price: $11.16 You Save: $2.79 (20%) Prices subject to change. Used Price: $4.98
I'm finally getting around to reading this book because I have a project in mind. Mystery seems like a very complex genre to write and this book serves as a great guide. Not only does the author go through how to write Mystery and Suspense, but she explains the differences between the two and between the sub genres. Throughout the book she also uses examples from specific authors and their novels to help illustrate what she's saying. And it would probably be a very good idea for a new mystery writer to read at least a few of these books. The author explains everything very thoroughly and gives the reader a good foundation from which to start writing. It's a wonderful book with tons of solid and useful information. I'm glad I have it and wish I'd gotten around to reading ... Read More

7.The Crime Writer's Reference Guide: 1001 Tips for Writing the Perfect Murder by: Martin Roth February 25, 2003
Average Rating: >>More Details		List Price: $20.95 Off The Bookshelf's Price: $14.25 You Save: $6.70 (32%) Prices subject to change. Used Price: $7.78
I purchased this book with some doubt. I wasn't sure if it was going to be what I was looking for as an aspiring horror & mystery writer. I have to say, I only read half way through this book so far; it's fantastic! Packed with information that any writer should know. This book covers everything from drugs, to criminals, to writing. You don't have to be a writer to read this book. I find this as a manual, and it contains as much information as a criminology text book! You have to purchase this book, I promise you will learn things that you never had any clue about. I know a lot of drug/criminal slang, and this book has helped me to learn every more. I can not say enough, Martin Roth wrote one heck of a book here. It has many graphs inside, it teaches you the structure of ... Read More

8.Plot & Structure: (Techniques And Exercises For Crafting A Plot That Grips Readers From Start To Finish) (Write Great Fiction) by: James Scott Bell October 06, 2004
Average Rating: >>More Details		List Price: $16.99 Off The Bookshelf's Price: $11.55 You Save: $5.44 (32%) Prices subject to change. Used Price: $10.07
Every so often I get insecure in my efforts to write a decent book, and I check out one of these craft books. Often they help, often not. This one falls in the latter category. It outlines the most common concepts of the most common fiction (the necessity of conflict, an objective for the main character, opposition thereto, the three act structure, etc.), and tells you how to fill in this cookie-cutter design and maybe tweak the shape so you come up with a new variation on the reindeer or the Christmas tree (or the thriller or the mystery or the romance). The section on plotting can be summarized as, "If you're going to plot, and you should, just think of anything that could happen, write it on a card, fill lots of cards, and then put the cards into a sequence that leads to someone getting shot and then someone else ... Read More

9.Scene of the Crime: A Writers Guide to Crime Scene Investigation (Howdunit Series) by: Anne Wingate September 15, 1992
Average Rating: >>More Details		Used Price: $2.50
This book was printed in 1992. It's definitely a great book for its time, as it's pretty detailed with crime scene investigation techniques. I just wish it had been updated since then.

10.How to Write a Mystery by: Larry Beinhart July 09, 1996
Average Rating: >>More Details		List Price: $15.00 Off The Bookshelf's Price: $13.50 You Save: $1.50 (10%) Prices subject to change. Used Price: $0.99
If nothing else, books on writing can help jumpstart your engine when writing. Mr. Beinhart's contribution to helping writers is a whodoesit (discussion on mystery writers) and a howdoit (on writing a mystery), and offers some thought-provoking insights.

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