A mystery novel is not just any ordinary book. It must keep readers on the edge of their seats and engaged and interested until the end. One way to achieve this is by incorporating surprises into the story. Surprises can be anything from a shocking revelation about a character to the sudden appearance of a corpse. As an author, it’s your job to create these twists and turns that will keep readers guessing until the final page.

One way to start off a surprise in your mystery novel is with the crime itself. The murder or crime should always be unexpected and mysterious. Your readers should feel like they are discovering clues along with the characters, piecing together evidence as they go. This is what makes the genre so compelling—everyone loves solving puzzles and figuring out whodunit.

As you write, try to think outside the box. Don’t be afraid to throw your readers for a loop. Maybe there was no murder, or perhaps the killer was completely unexpected. Keep your audience on their toes by picking up new threads and taking them in different directions. But don’t make things too hard; remember, you want to convince your readers that the mystery is solvable.