Mystery

Mystery is a genre that really doesn’t get as much attention as it should.

It’s a genre that captivates and entertains us. It keeps its readers always wanting more and sitting on the edge of their seats.

These stories typically start with a main character who has an interesting background. The main character always sees or hears something suspicious and begins to investigate it. In the end, the story is usually resolved and results in the main character either changing or learning something new.

Most of us students started in on the genre when we were young by reading the beloved “Nancy Drew” and “The Hardy Boys” stories.

As we age, we must realize that there are, in fact, more mysteries than those solved by Drew and the Hardy boys.

“The Sherlock Holmes” series by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

One of my favorite mystery authors is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of the “Sherlock Holmes” books.

In this mystifying series, Detective Sherlock Holmes investigates crimes with his good friend Dr. John Watson.

Together they live in an apartment at 221B Baker St., where they discuss cases with clients and go about their everyday lives.

Each novel revolves around a different case that the duo goes about solving.

Doyle’s books are not only interesting but thrilling and suspenseful. The scenes he describes are realistic and build up suspense until the missing link is revealed and the stress put on the reader is dropped.

At times I feel as if I am there, written into his novels.

“The Murder of Roger Ackroyd” by Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie is another talented mystery writer.

While she isn’t well-known to most of those in high school, her work is amazing and should not be overlooked.

Some of her stories have even been referenced in TV shows, such as “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd,” which had an entire episode of BBC’s “Doctor Who” based on it.

In this book, Roger Ackroyd is the wealthiest man in town. He is grieving the loss of his love, Mrs. Ferrars, a widow, who took her own life by overdose.

A letter arrives from Ferrars, telling Ackroyd that she was blackmailed. Her last wish is that he find her blackmailer and get back at him.

Ackroyd hosts a dinner party, at which he was murdered.

The guests begin to panic and an investigation is opened on his case.

This book is both mysterious and thrilling, and Christie deserves much more credit for her work on this novel.

Other mystery books:

• “Miss Pergrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” by Ransom Riggs
• “Paper Towns” by John Green
• “A Study in Charlotte” by Brittany Cavallaro
• “One of Us is Lying” by Karen M. McManus
• “Confessions of a Murder Suspect” by James Patterson