History SoYouWantTo / WriteADetectiveNovel

"That said," Seeker allowed, "UsefulNotes/VictorianBritain and TheEdwardianEra are quite popular settings. As is the [[GenteelInterbellumSetting 1920s and 1930s]]. The genre experienced something of a GoldenAge in those times, it seems, and even later writers like to set them there. And of course, the present day is quite popular by virtue of it being the time and place the author can see out of their window without need for as much arduous research. But ultimately, they can be set anywhere."

Seeker smiled warmly, one of the rare times an expression other than intense concentration crossed his face. "You do yourself too little credit, Foyle. The point of the companion is not that he's stupider than the detective; it's that he's not as observant. Even the [[SherlockHolmes most well-known of your number]] was an accomplished medical doctor."

"Indeed so. One other potential pitfall concerns the characters; the detective may be made too brilliant or presented in too idealistic a fashion; few want to read about a paragon, even if it is a paragon such as myself," Seeker remarked humbly. "On the other hand, there is an unfortunate tendency to present [[TheWatson the companion]] as little more than a blundering fool. Hardly a tactful approach, given that the companion is supposed to represent the reader. You're essentially telling the reader [[YouSuck that they're useless and pathetic]]."

"The works of Creator/AgathaChristie," Seeker said firmly. "Not for nothing is she called the Queen of the Classic Mystery. Creator/RaymondChandler and Creator/DashiellHammett, too; Americans, and frequently of a rougher edge than a lot of British material of the same era, but brilliant mystery writers both. Rex Stout's Literature/NeroWolfe is another excellent choice."

"That said," Seeker allowed, "UsefulNotes/VictorianBritain and TheEdwardianEra are quite popular settings. As is the [[GenteelInterbellumSetting 1920s and 1930s]]. The genre experienced something of a GoldenAge in those times, it seems, and even later writers like to set them there. But of course, they can be set anywhere."

"That said," Seeker allowed, "VictorianBritain and TheEdwardianEra are quite popular settings. As is the [[GenteelInterbellumSetting 1920s and 1930s]]. The genre experienced something of a GoldenAge in those times, it seems, and even later writers like to set them there. But of course, they can be set anywhere."

"Of course," Seeker allowed reluctantly, "that presents it's own pitfall; the audience may feel cheated if the person they've trusted to ''solve'' the crime or accurately report the crime turns out to be the one who ''did'' it; again, you need to make it so that the reader can determine the solution of the mystery from the clues provided, and neither detective nor narrator is likely to deliberately implicate ''themselves''. But in the hands of a skilled writer, any possibility can be made entertaining."

----

"The works of Creator/AgathaChristie," Seeker said firmly. "Not for nothing is she called the Queen of the Classic Mystery. Creator/RaymondChandler and Creator/DashiellHammett, too; Americans, and frequently of a rougher edge than a lot of British material of the same era, but brilliant mystery writers both. Rex Stout's NeroWolfe is another excellent choice."

"And of course," I offered, "There's SherlockHolmes."

"The works of Creator/AgathaChristie," Seeker said firmly. "Not for nothing is she called the Queen of the Classic Mystery. Creator/RaymondChandler and Creator/DashiellHammett, too; Americans, and frequently of a rougher edge than a lot of British material of the same era, but brilliant mystery writers both. RexStout's NeroWolfe is another excellent choice"

"The works of Creator/AgathaChristie," Seeker said firmly. "Not for nothing is she called the Queen of the Classic Mystery. Creator/RaymondChandler and DashiellHammett, too; Americans, and frequently of a rougher edge than a lot of British material of the same era, but brilliant mystery writers both. RexStout's NeroWolfe is another excellent choice"

"The works of Creator/AgathaChristie," Seeker said firmly. "Not for nothing is she called the Queen of the Classic Mystery. RaymondChandler and DashiellHammett, too; Americans, and frequently of a rougher edge than a lot of British material of the same era, but brilliant mystery writers both. {{Rex Stout}}'s NeroWolfe is another excellent choice"

"The works of AgathaChristie," Seeker said firmly. "Not for nothing is she called the Queen of the Classic Mystery. RaymondChandler and DashiellHammett, too; Americans, and frequently of a rougher edge than a lot of British material of the same era, but brilliant mystery writers both. {{Rex Stout}}'s NeroWolfe is another excellent choice"

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"That said," Seeker allowed, "VictorianBritain and TheEdwardianEra are quite popular settings. As is the [[ChristieTime 1920s and 1930s]]. The genre experienced something of a GoldenAge in those times, it seems, and even later writers like to set them there. But of course, they can be set anywhere."

"Because we're fascinated by them, Foyle. They're complex mysteries that make the reader work, think about what's happening rather than just let it was over them. The characters are equally complicated and interesting, and certainly in my case -- if I do say so myself -- rather brilliant. They let the reader go into all parts of society and all walks of life, from the supposedly law-abiding domains of the rich to the [[WretchedHive squalid dens of sin]] that our poorer brothers and sisters reside in, all in pursuit of that elusive thing called truth."

"Indeed so. One other potential pitfall concerns the characters; the detective may be made too brilliant or presented in too idealistic a fashion; few want to read about a paragon, even if it is a paragon such as myself," Seeker remarked humbly. "On the other hand, there is an unfortunate tendency to present [[TheWatson the companion]] as little more than a blundering fool. Hardly a tactful approach, given that the companion is supposed to represent the reader. You're essentially telling the reader [[YouSuck that they're a useless and pathetic]]."