  Mystery
This week: Edited by: MaryLou  
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| Mystery stories are so popular because they fulfill one of humans' deepest instincts - the need to explore, to question, to find out. Humans are incessantly searching for answers to life's greatest mysteries. Since those mysteries are so difficult to unravel, we can find comfort in reading and writing mystery novels and short stories. Thus, our need to discover is satisfied...until the hunger strikes again. |
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Mystery isn't limited to short stories or novels. For example, the first campfire I hosted began in a normal way: Just a few people sitting around, talking and being silly.
But it evolved into a mystery, when "Steve" and "MaryLou" become embroiled in the suspicious circumstances of the death of an elderly neighbor, Miss Ethel. Soon, there emerged a slew of suspects with various motives: Toothless Joe with seven dogs; Welfare Molly with seven children; Harley-riding Snake who may or may not be Miss Ethel's son; the bloomer-loving Mayor Buttkiss; Ernie, who lives in a box under the bridge; and Detective Hunter, whose favorite pastime was creeping around Steve and MaryLou's house, to name a few.
Mystery campfires can be quite interesting and fun. Unlike short stories and novels, these items can be more relaxed with regards to conventions and rules normally expected in prose. Take motive, for instance. In a "proper" mystery, we expect the motive for the crime to be one that makes sense to us, usually for gain of some sort.
But in a campfire, you can establish outlandish motives that would never be accepted otherwise. You can create outrageous characters who have no connection to reality, if you like. In short, you can give your imagination completely free reign.
With the coming of Writing.com's 5th Birthday Bash, why not try your hand at creating a mystery campfire for that contest? At the very least, it will make a refreshing change from the demands of "proper" mystery writing. 
See ya next month,
MaryLou
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Here's a few campfires, interactives, In & Outs, and polls dealing in the mystery genre. Perhaps they'll assist in creating your own. I hope you enjoy and don't forget to rate and review.
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Mini Mystery
Practice your deductive abilities; 1000 GPs for your correct answer.
"A Quiet Morning at the Office" from Great Book of Whodunit Puzzles
"There can be no question of suicide," stated Cooper emphatically. "The murder weapon, a handgun with a silencer, was found immediately in front of the victim's desk, but beyond where he could have dropped it. It also had no fingerprints, and he wasn't wearing gloves."
"I agree," said Walker. "The gun, of course, was photographed and taken for evidence before we removed the body."
Inspector Matthew Walker of the Royston Police Department, Thomas P. Stanwick, and FBI Special Agent Ryan Cooper were in the inner office of Wilson Jasper. Until he had been found shot at his desk a few hours earlier, Jasper had been a vice president of Supertech Corporation.
The reliable Sergeant Hatch entered the office and reported to Walker.
"As you can see, sir," he said, "there are only four doors out of this office. Three lead to the offices of Jasper's aides: Joseph Springer, John King, and William Farrar. Their offices also open onto the outer hallway. The fourth door, directly facing the desk, leads to the outer office, which is occupied by Ms. Pringle, Jasper's secretary, and two clerks. The windows behind Jasper's desk cannot be opened."
While listening to Hatch's report, Stanwick glanced again over the large, bloodstained desk. When he and Walker had arrived, the body had still been slumped over the blotter, which was covered with several spattered piles of financial reports, performance evaluations, and other papers. Also on the desk were a telephone console, a pen set, a calendar, a family photograph, and a few knickknacks. A personal computer rested on a side table beside the chair.
"I've finished questioning the aides," Hatch continued. "Springer said he didn't see Jasper this morning. Jasper didn't send for him, and Springer said he didn't want to disturb him while he was doing evaluations. King and Farrar also denied seeing him this morning. Neither was sent for, and Farrar was busy with quarterly reports."
"How about Ms. Pringle?" asked Walker.
"She says Jasper arrived about eight, went right into his office, and closed the door. He had a full briefcase with him, as usual. He cleaned off his desk each night and brought a caseful of papers home."
"Did he have any appointments this morning?" asked Cooper.
"None that she knew of, and no one appeared for one. He kept his schedule and to-do list to himself. In a nutshell, no one saw anyone enter or leave Jasper's office except Jasper himself, and no one heard a shot or a noise. Ms. Pringle found the body when he wouldn't answer his intercom for a call."
"Well," said Cooper with a sigh, "a Bureau team will soon be here to examine the offices more thoroughly. It may tie in with one of our current investigations. Certainly we have established that access to the inner office was exceedingly limited."
"I think we have established rather more than that," Stanwick remarked.
"Such as?"
"Such as the identity of the killer," said Stanwick quietly.
Who murdered Wilson Jasper?
Answers to the last mini-mystery:
Deelyte- Chillin' : Yes, he was definitely involved. With the facts given it had to be either Burke and Addington, or Burke and Chatham, because neither Chatham or Addy work alone, and they won't work together...Or the only other option being Burke alone. So yes, in some way he had to be involved. That's my guess, anyway! Great NL and we had the same progression in the mystery department except I found Victoria Holt's "Bride of Pendorric" before Agatha. I loved her romatic names like Favel Farington and fell into mysteries and never climbed out. Great start and I look forward to more. Dee
nomlet  : Burke did it! The other two never work alone and never with each other (at least not anymore). So either Burke did the job alone, or with one of the other two.
Erik Stark : Burke was involved because niether of the other two work without another person. Addington and Chatham will not work together but both use an accomplice, therefore Burke was involved regardless of which of the other two were also involved.
karabu: Although I'm probably not first, I have an answer for the mini mystery. Yes, Burke was involved. Based on the information given, the others don't work alone, and won't work together, so Burke had to be working with one of them. Fun, thanks!
M Hague Bailey : Here is my answer to the mini mystery (even though I am sure you have already gotten an answer).
Burke was definitely involved. Since Addington and Chatham never work alone and wouldn't work together, due to Chatham's dislike for Addington, Burke was involved, either alone or with one of the other suspects.
Feedback:
Vivian  : Interesting mini-mystery, MaryLou. Welcome to the Mystery Newsletter editors. I also started young with mysteries, but I think my first before Nancy Drew were The Bobbsey Twins, who always had a mystery of some kind. ~~ Viv
Ah, I missed out on the Bobbsey Twins!
billwilcox: Well, MaryLou, congrats on your first newsletter and the little introduction of yourself. I love a good mystery and I'm glad to see we have such a distinguished editor to help teach us how to write one  , W.D.
Weel, I don't know about "distinguished" Bill, but I much appreciate your confidence in me!
Amelia : Yes, I agree AC is the queen. I also enjoy Sherlock and several "cozy" books look forward to your next newsletter..now I must check out these stories you have been kind enough to recomend..Amelia
It's always exciting to find a like mind, Amelia. Maybe we should start an AC or mystery fan club here. I noticed that currently there are no groups specifically for mystery lovers. 
Nikola~Thankful Library Lady  : Very good intro NL, Mary! I love to read a good mystery! ~ Nikola
Thanks, Nikola! |
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Mystery: August 31, 2005 Issue [#587]
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