MYSTERY OR THRILLER – OR BOTH?

When someone finds out that I have a book being released soon; inevitably, their first questions are: “Fiction or nonfiction;” and “What genre is it?” The ensuing question is usually: “Is it a mystery or a thriller?” Hmmm, what’s the difference?

Let’s ask Mr. Webster, shall we?

Mys´ter`y Pronunciation: mĭs´ter`ŷ
A profound secret; something wholly unknown, or something kept cautiously concealed, and therefore exciting curiosity or wonder; something which has not been or can not be explained; hence, specifically, that which is beyond human comprehension.

Thrill er ; - )
A thriller is a novel of suspense with a plot structure that reinforces the elements of gamesmanship and the chase, with a sense of the hunt being paramount. Thrillers can be spy novels, tales of geopolitical crisis, legal thrillers, medical thrillers, technothrillers, domestic thrillers. The common thread is a growing sense of threat and the excitement of pursuit. A fast-paced, high stakes crime story in which the protagonist is generally in danger at every turn, with the most danger coming in the final confrontation with the antagonist.

Okay, seems to go hand-in-hand. But where does Solemnly Swear fit?

As a brand new member of the Mystery Writers of America, I was reading their magazine and came across an interesting distinction: “Mysteries, you don’t know who the bad guys are, and thrillers, you know who the bad guys are and the story is if the hero will stop them.”

Very interesting. So, if you consider the number of twists and red herrings found in Solemnly Swear, my answer to the ensuing question for now on will be: “It’s a mystery, then a thriller, then a mystery, then a thriller…”