Every new mystery has a new victim. That victim is the fulcrum for setting up the mystery puzzle for your detective to solve. Your victim’s unique character and circumstances set the stage for your detective’s investigation.

Even though the victim is “off stage” for most of your story, if not all, to create a sound and intriguing puzzle, you need to know a lot about the victim. They are one of the key characters along with the villain and the detective in your mystery novel.

What you contribute to your victim’s character background will have a profound influence on knowing how to introduce clues, suspects, and head toward the reveal of the villain’s relationship with the victim.