How To Write a Murder Mystery Story

• May 05, 2025
• 5 min read

• Tags: Book Writing, Fiction, Novel, Novel Writings, Writer, Writing Tips

A satisfying murder mystery tale is one that’s well-crafted. There’s nothing quite like it, is there? The high stakes, the building tension, and the way the author lures you into rooting for the detective truly take immense skill and attention to craft. What are the things you should consider while crafting a murder mystery story? Let’s get straight into it! 

“Ah, but my dear sir, the why must never be obvious. That is the whole point.” — Agatha Christie 

Introduction to the murder mystery genre

The murder mystery genre is a captivating and enduring form of storytelling that has fascinated readers for generations. At its core, a murder mystery revolves around a crime, typically a murder, and the subsequent investigation to uncover the truth. A good murder mystery should keep readers guessing until the very end, with a surprising twist that is both unexpected and satisfying. To write a compelling murder mystery story, it’s essential to understand the key elements of the genre, including the importance of character development, plot twists, and red herrings. By weaving these elements into your narrative, you can create a story that keeps readers engaged and entertained from start to finish.

Understanding the key elements

A well-crafted murder mystery is a complex puzzle that involves multiple suspects, motives, and clues. The key elements of a murder mystery include a murder victim, a detective or amateur sleuth, and a list of potential suspects. The story should be rich with plot twists and turns, as well as red herrings to keep the reader guessing. A satisfying ending that ties up all the loose ends and provides closure is crucial. By understanding these key elements, writers can create a well-structured and engaging murder mystery story that captivates readers and keeps them on the edge of their seats.

A. Write a superior plot

1. Plot the story backward 

You’ve decided who the killer is? Great! But are you sure about how things get there? 

It’s at this point that you work towards tightening the plot. 

The essence of a murder mystery story is that everything should make sense in the end. There can be no loose ends, and no questions can be left unanswered. A strategy to avert this is to work backward. Think carefully about how things got to the moment of the big reveal. Obviously, you don’t get to spell it out in a linear fashion, but it all has to be in your head. 

When a writer plans the story backward, it ensures that every detail aligns perfectly. Plotting meticulously is crucial to ensure all elements of the story fit together logically.

You can do this in a few layers: 

1. Once you know who the killer is going to be, start thinking about how they committed the crime and what their motivations might have been. 
2. Then, think about their alibi, who they may have confided in, and how they go about hiding their crime. 
3. Introduce detectives, police, or investigators in the mix. To make the plot more believable, put yourself in their shoes and start thinking about how you would carry out the investigation. Think about loopholes and missing links that the killer has left. These clues will help you chart the investigator’s path. 

Bonus tip: Bear in mind, if you’re doing this on your own, that you may come to convenient solutions because you know the end already. It’s a good idea to run your story by someone, a friend or a fellow writer, to see if it makes sense logically. 

2. Think about where you’re leaving breadcrumbs 

By ‘breadcrumbs’ we mean clues, of course. 

When a reader gets to the end of the story, they’re not thrown new information. Instead, they reexamine existing information—little hints they hadn’t previously considered—to make sense of what’s happened. Paying attention to the little details is crucial in crafting a believable narrative. What you’re looking to evoke here is an epiphany, not a reveal. 

It is also essential to provide the reader with all the clues necessary to solve the mystery. This ensures they have access to the same information as the detective, allowing them to piece together all the clues and feel like co-detectives.

In other words, clues should be hidden in plain sight. You can do this through two techniques: foreshadowing and misdirection. What are these? 

Foreshadowing is a literary device that is used to hint at significant events or moments that come later in the story. Subtlety is of utmost importance here, and your readers should be curious to unravel its significance. 

Readers are often unsatisfied if something is revealed abruptly, so foreshadowing is your safeguard against a random twist. Once the twist happens, and the reader tries to find out how it happened, they should land on whatever you’ve hinted at. Foreshadowing should be subtle but logical, and overtly obvious in hindsight.

Misdirection is the act of diverting your reader’s attention from an important clue. In magic, misdirection is often used as a technique of deception to keep the audience’s attention elsewhere so that the trick is carried out successfully. 

Likewise, in fiction, writers often use this technique to distract readers from elements that will later gain importance in the narrative. This may happen through the narration or through ‘misguided’ deductions of a character. (The latter, for example, often happens in Holmes stories, where you’re seeing the world through Dr. Watson’s eyes.) Logically speaking, if this character comes to an erroneous conclusion, so will the reader. Instead, drop hints that readers refer to later that are external to what the character is saying or seeing.

B. Write a tension-rich story

3. Begin with action 

What you need here is a killer hook. (Sorry, just couldn’t resist!)

The murder mystery is a genre that’s all about action. So it’s advised that you start writing with an action-packed incident, rather than a description of the setting or a philosophical pondering about the nature of things. Ensure that this event is intriguing, and a reader is compelled to find out what happened and how things came to be. An obvious type of incident is the discovery of a body. Writing a murder mystery can be fun and engaging for both the writer and the reader.

4. Build tension in every scene 

The conflict between the killer and the investigator is at the core of a murder mystery story. Understanding the murderer’s motives can build tension by providing depth to the antagonist’s actions and making the detective’s pursuit more compelling. Even if the two parties don’t actually meet for the majority of the story, the reader should sense the tension of the cat-and-mouse chase between them.

You can do this by having the detective miss clues that you, the reader, are already exposed to, or through instances where the killer is almost caught but manages to slip away. Additionally, leading readers in the wrong direction with cleverly planted clues can maintain suspense and enhance the surprise of the plot twist.

5. Every character should have a rich backstory 

In order to make the characters realistic, they should be more than simply stock characters who exist to perform specific actions in your book. The danger with a murder mystery is that a high focus on the plot may lead you to put characters in the backseat. However, developing other characters is crucial as it enriches the story and enhances interactions among characters. But in fact, characters are tremendously useful in fleshing out the details of the whole story. For instance, if you have witnessed interrogations in your story, you can use various characters’ alibis to give multiple perspectives of the same event, situation, or even suspect. 

All characters, including suspects and the detective, should be well-developed to enrich the narrative. Well-developed characters contribute significantly to plot progression and create engaging conflict, ultimately enhancing the reader’s experience and the complexity of the mystery.

6. Craft a powerful twist

A powerful twist is the hallmark of a good murder mystery. It should be surprising yet make perfect sense in retrospect, providing a satisfying conclusion to the story. To craft a powerful twist, consider the murderer’s motives and the clues that have been subtly planted throughout the narrative. The twist should be unexpected but logical, delivering a sense of surprise and satisfaction for the reader. By carefully crafting a powerful twist, you can create a memorable and engaging murder mystery story that will keep readers talking long after they’ve turned the final page.

7. Avoid common mistakes

When writing a murder mystery, there are several common pitfalls to avoid. One significant mistake is introducing too many suspects, which can make the story confusing and difficult to follow. Another is using too many red herrings, which can leave the reader feeling cheated or misled. Additionally, avoid relying on convenient coincidences or contrived plot devices, as these can detract from the story’s credibility and suspense. By steering clear of these common mistakes, you can create a well-crafted and engaging murder mystery story that keeps readers hooked and entertained.

8. The importance of editing

Editing is a crucial step in the writing process, especially for murder mysteries. A good editor can help refine your plot, develop your characters, and ensure that your story is well-structured and engaging. Editing can also help you avoid common mistakes, such as inconsistencies in the plot or characters, and ensure that your story is free of errors and contradictions. By working with a skilled editor, you can create a polished and compelling murder mystery story that keeps readers guessing until the very end. Whether you’re writing a short story or a full-length novel, editing is an essential step in crafting a suspenseful and satisfying murder mystery that leaves readers eager for more.

Some general tips

• Read as much as you can: To familiarize yourself with the genre, to understand (through analysis) how a murder mystery is crafted, and to gain a sense of how such a tale is written. 
• Don’t defy basic laws of science (especially medicine), the exception being if it directly makes sense to your plot. Readers can recognize a lapse in logic, and it takes away from realism. 

Here are some more story-writing resources for you:

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Tanvi

With a foundation in Life Sciences, Tanvi enjoys curating technical writing tips tailored for ESL students. When she's not translating complex concepts into bite-sized nuggets, she can be found playing with dogs or painting landscapes.