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Customer Rating:
Summary: A great guide for a mystery author to follow
Comment: I bought this book when it came out, based on the strength of Frey's previous guide "How to write a
damn good novel" and I was not disappointed. Despite the similar titles, this book focuses in on
the salient things particular to the mystery genre. He touches on several subjects, ranging from
the four pillars of mystery to how to become intimate with a murderer to how to craft strong
endlines for each of your chapters. The book echoes his previous works, but that in no way detracts
from all the new stuff he presents. It is a good read, and I found it extremely helpful to my
writing.

If you want to write a mystery novel, buy this book, and read it.

Customer Rating:
Summary: King of the How-tos
Comment: I have been writing for 28 years and I admit I'm not God, but after reading over 300 writing books,
most of them I own, I can unequivocally tell you that this one is tops!
Please read it. It
anwers all your questions and shows you exactly what to do then what to do next.
If you don't
find this book helpful, send it to me and I'll save it for you until you are serious about your
work.
It also works up an exciting novel to show you how it's done, and will fire you up while
entertaining you.

Joan of Art

Customer Rating:
Summary: A Practical Guide
Comment: I really liked this book. You read right along with the author as he creates a mystery novel, step
by step. He teaches you how to create characters with depth by writing a detailed background and
having your characters write a journal. He starts with the murderer, the plot behind the plot, then
takes you on to your hero/detective and each of your other characters. You learn to write a plot by
using a stepsheet. I especially found helpful the fact that you write a stepsheet for what the
reader sees and what the reader does not see (what is happening offstage). You learn about the five
act design in which a mystery novel is divided. The author then gives helpful pointers in writing
good prose, writing the mystery scene, choosing viewpoint, the final steps in rewriting, and then
some words on marketing your novel. I found this book enjoyable to read and very helpful in writing
a mystery or any novel. It's one of the best "How to Write" books I've read because it's so
practical in how it teaches you to write a mystery novel. It would be a great resource in any
writer's library.

Customer Rating:
Summary: How To Write a Damn Good Mystery
Comment: This is a great book. I found it totally by accident when I was trying to find a book on plot and
mystery. It has information on plot and more. What makes this book a great find is that it not
only has the information on the components of the mystery, but also it gives information about the
structure of a good mystery, using examples from classics such as "The Maltase Falcon" or the more
recent "Prime Suspect." From answering questions such as "Why do people read mysteries anyway?" to
discussing " Mythic Motifs of interest to mystery writers," Frey obviously knows the genre well. It
should rank up there next to classics such as Dorothy Brande's "On Becoming a Writer" or John
Gardner's "On Becoming a Novelist." What makes this book truly unique is that it is well-written,
and it is one that you can learn more each time you read it.
It makes you think.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent intro
Comment: I'm new to mystery writing, so take my opinion with a grain of salt. I found this to be an excellent
intro to mystery writing - he explains clearly why people read mysteries and therefore what elements
you must build into your characters and into the story. His character-based approach has made more
and more sense as I've worked on crafting a mystery novel.