The Detective-Story Writing Toolkit: Facts and Tips for Writing Mystery

10/6/2021

While it wasn’t the genre I started writing in, Mystery was the genre that inspired me to write. Specifically, detective stories packed with cliches. For me, nothing beats a story about a fiercely intelligent person who casually pieces together every detail and catches the culprit in the end.

Recently, I decided it was about time that I started writing my detective story, so I began my research and decided to share what I found in this blog post!

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Cliche Detective vs Realistic Detective

While I might be wrong in assuming a cliche detective can’t be realistic, I am simply referring to the type of detective that has its own version of pulp fiction; the suave ladies-man, sitting in a smoky room, wondering why everything is in greyscale until he is blinded by the next soft-focus, damsel-in-distress with legs-for-miles who comes waltzing in through their office door.

You know the type.

The realistic detective on the other hand is overworked, working three cases at once instead of the odd case that crosses their desk. These are most likely police detectives, who have their own problems, their own dramas. These are the detectives whose personal lives are not involved in the case and they are simply trying to get through the week and hopefully get some sleep.

These kinds of detectives have their own charm.

When deciding on the kind of detective I wanted to write, I thought the cliche detective would be the ideal choice. It allows for some extraordinary situations and even some silliness in regards to situations. However, the seriousness of the realistic detective, coupled with a beaten-down demeanour had a charm I could not resist.

Of course, that is a cliche in itself, but one that certainly fits what I want to write and read.

The Detective Jargon/Phrases/Terms

We need some words to fit the role. Detectives, professional and unprofessional, have their jargon, sometimes entire phrases.

Here are some of the most popular phrases and jargon you can use!

R&I - Records and Identification
EG: “Are there any R&I for the perp?”
Perp - Perpetrator

EG: “He is the perp who fired the first shot!”

Jane/John Doe - Unidentified Corpse
EG: “We have a John Doe on the doorstep.”
The mark - The target (a person for assassination/kidnapping or key object)
EG: “The mark is most likely the witness in transit.”
Mouthpiece - A lawyer
EG: “She will only talk through her mouthpiece.”
Dead to Rights - enough evidence to prove someone guilty
EG: “Well, Vinny, it looks like they have you dead to rights.”
Alibi - an excuse or piece of information proving that someone was somewhere else during the crime.
EG: “It’s no good, he has an air-tight alibi.”
Motive - a motivation to commit a crime or act
EG: “He wouldn’t do it without a motive, right?”
Lean on - to pressure someone to do something
EG: “I want you to lean on him, we need that code!”
Booking - to book someone into jail
EG: “We’re done here, book him.”
Drive-by - shots fired from a moving vehicle
EG: “They got Sammy in the drive-by!”
The Front Desk - the information desk in a police station
EG: “Ask the mug at the front desk.”
Mug - someone stupid, gullible
EG: “Couple of mugs at the front desk bothering the clerk.”
Slim Jim - a device used to break into a car
EG: “Must have had a slim jim, they stole the car quick and quiet.”

If there are any more terms you would like to add to the list, be sure to leave a comment. I will be updating this article from time to time to ensure that it’s always helpful. With that said, I hope some of these terms appeal to you and make it into your mystery story.

The Grim Facts

Now, the next thing you need with the jargon is some facts to make your crime scenes realistic. These facts you might want to include in your story to make it a bit more authentic, to add some depth to your writing.

If the body is warm and not stiff, the person has been dead for less than 3 hours.
If the body is warm and stiff (Rigour Mortis has set in), the person has been dead between 3 - 8 hours.
If the body is cold and not stiff, 8 - 36 hours.
If the body is cold and stiff, more than 36 hours.
Blood smells like copper.
Blood gets darker over time.
Blood can take around an hour to dry, it depends on the environment and temperature.
Bugs help tell how long a person has been dead. (flies are there soon enough, moths nest much later).
Blood splatters are larger the further they are away from the source.
The size and direction of blood splatter can help tell the angle of the attack, as well as the calibre of the weapon (small gun, a small amount of blood, etc).
Of course, finding the bullet helps identify the type of gun, even the exact gun that fired the bullet.

The Legal Facts

Now, I’m certainly not well versed in legal matters and it’s a crucial side to detective stories, so the list of facts I’ve learned isn’t so long. I would certainly appreciate those who are knowledgeable on these matters to provide any more facts.

With that said, here are the facts I have gathered so far!

A judge grants search warrants to the police to search a person’s home.
A suspect, in accordance with their rights, can remain silent until their lawyer (personal or provided) and then talk to them instead.
Suspects should be kept separate to ensure they don’t corroborate their stories.
In court, a private attorney can be hired by a suspect or a public defender will be provided. Private attorneys are a lot more effective.
The jury must consist of randomly selected members of the community, biased jury members can be screened by the defendant’s attorney
Defendants have a right to a speedy trial so they don’t spend excessive time in jail, but a ‘speedy trial’ means a trial without undue delays. It can still carry on beyond a set time.
Jails hold a person for a short time, usually defendants awaiting trial. Prison is for the long-term ‘customers’.
Lawyers can give legal advice, but cannot represent someone in court. Attorneys can give legal advice and represent a person in court.

Detective Tips & Tricks

Here are some techniques that your detective/gumshoe/sleuth might use for examining a crime scene or a person. If you have any more to add, be sure to let me know!

If someone is hiding something from a detective, they will usually try to get between the detective and the hiding place as subtly as they can. The person might grow more uncomfortable the closer the detective gets to the hiding place.
In homicide, the spouse is always the first suspect.
People with military backgrounds are more likely to stand with their hands behind their backs.
Liars tend to have more details in their stories than those telling the truth.
People telling the truth to gesture with their hands more as well, while liars avoid gesturing or look uncomfortable gesturing.
When clasping their hands, a person’s dominant hand will have that hand’s thumb on top.

Tips for Writing a Mystery Novel

These are some key tips for the writing of your mystery novel or detective story. Some of these you might be familiar with, some might not fit your style of writing or the story you are going for, but there are sure to be some tips you need to keep in mind when writing your novel.

Present your clues, let the reader try to figure them out.
When hiding the answers, use red herrings to distract the reader.
The city setting is classical, but that doesn’t mean you can’t write a small-town mystery. Consider both settings first.
A smart villain makes for a better mystery.
Plan thoroughly, mystery novels have the most complicated plots to plan.
Keep your ending in mind when writing your story, deviation can break your realism.
Use other mystery novels/movies/series as inspiration.
When making a complicated story, try not to overcomplicate it. Set a limit for details and clues. Simplify some details before you add some more.
Detectives don’t just have one kind of personality, they can be upbeat or cynical, serious or jocular, caring or cold. Have fun with who your detective is, it might be the break from the case that your reader enjoys.

Police Ranks

When it comes to police ranks, I researched the American police system. I found a truly helpful page that gave me the lowest rank to the highest rank in a police department. You can check it out for yourself here if you are interested, but here are the simplified versions of the police ranks, from lowest to highest:

Police Officer - The very first rank is the common police officer. Their duties include responding to crimes or accidents, interviewing suspects and witnesses, writing reports and other similar tasks.
Police Detective - The next rank is a police detective. A detective is usually assigned to a specific division, from narcotics to robbery, to homicide. There are higher ranks of detectives who act as superiors, they manage the lower ranks of detectives.
Police Sergeant - The police sergeant is much like the manager of these lower ranks police officers. The sergeant will respond to calls from police officers, handle some more administrative responsibilities, such as coordinating patrols. The lower ranks go to the sergeant and the sergeant keeps the higher ranks informed. Like police detectives, sergeants will also be assigned a specific division and geographical location.
Police Lieutenant - Much like sergeants, Lieutenant’s are simply imbued with more powers and duties. Lieutenants, depending on their class, can assist detectives, acting as commanding officers. Lieutenants are also assigned specific divisions and can be called upon to assist in high profile cases in their division.
Police Captain - A captain oversees their geographical division, ensuring that all under them are performing their tasks in accordance with department policies. The captain manages other administrative responsibilities, such as budget requests and activity reports. The captain is also in charge of interviewing and swearing-in civilian personnel for their division.
Police Commander - The commander's power in the department is even greater, ensuring the efficiency of the bureau they are assigned. The commander conducts audits on operations, makes suggestions to higher management on boosting productivity etc. The commander is there to assist and improve the police service while maintaining rapport with communities.
Police Deputy Chief - The second-highest rank for a police officer. Working with the Chief of Police, a deputy chief is assigned a specific bureau, from Detective to Internal affairs, as the commanding officer. The deputy will perform the duties of chief of police in the absence of the chief of police.
Chief of Police - The highest rank, the Chief of Police is in charge of the entire police department. The Chief of Police is in charge of the planning, efficient administration and operation of the police department under the authority of the Board of Police Commissioners.

The COP’s list of duties, from their importance in a crisis to the enforcing of the law, is lengthy. Be sure to read more here.

I find it important to know these ranks when writing a police detective, just so I know who the detective takes orders from and who they give orders to; in short, who commands more respect. It makes it much easier to assign ranks to certain characters, depending on the role I have for them in the story.

Conclusion

Those are the facts and tips for writing a mystery novel, for now, I hope you found them useful. This is an ongoing blog post that will be updated regularly and as some of my students know, it will make an excellent starting point for my next course; Writing a Detective Story Filled With Mystery.

I look forward to discussing the genre with you and sharing new ideas. It’s a personal favourite of mine and I’m sure it is for many of you reading this.

Thank you and as always,

Good day, goodnight and happy writing!

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