How to Write a Damn Good Mystery: A Practical Step-by-Step Guide from Inspiration to Finished Man...
Edgar award nominee James N. Frey, author of the internationally best-selling books on the craft of writing, How to Write a Damn Good Novel...
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reviews
Feb 05, 2012
Deborah
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Frey claims that the mystery genre is the last bastion of the hero. I think it is his take on this genre, which causes him to urge writers to draw vivid mythic detectives for this long tradition of good battling evil. He also stresses that killers be formed into round characters, worthy, strong and intelligent, thereby making the hero/detective speedup his or her manhunt, while rising to greater strengths of logic and risk.
James N. Frey knows what makes mystery novels successful. His p More...
James N. Frey knows what makes mystery novels successful. His p More...
Jul 27, 2009
Jackie
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I have always loved to curl up in bed after a long day and pick up a good mystery, usually Mary Higgins Clark but unfortunately I could not find a book about her experience as a writer. So, I found one by James N. Frey, How to Write a Damn Good Mystery. The title alone spoke to me. It sounded daring, exciting, and to the point. I was right; I read the book in 4 days, easily. When writing for the first time or changing your style of writing I believe this would be the most practical way of go
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Nov 12, 2007
Kim
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It's hard--and maybe not fair--to evaluate a how-to book when you haven't executed whatever project the book outlines. I haven't written a mystery, either following James Frey's method or any other approach. But books about writing make up a good portion of my leisure reading, so I can compare this one to others. Frey's approach seems executable and potentially effective; as evidence, he's coached a number of successfully published mystery writers and has published several of his own mysteries.
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Jul 28, 2011
Stephen
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Jim Frey is qualified to tell people how to write a good mystery novel because he has written several which I have never read and has taught in lots of writers' workshops of which I have never heard. His text is adequate but flawed in several respects. He insists on using the modifier "damned good" in front of nouns like sentence, plot, scene, character, complication, resolution and the like ... doubtless in furtherance of what he considers to be a clever book title. He offers ou... (s
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Aug 14, 2011
Tyra
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A must read for those writing in the mystery genre and wanting to understand how this genre differentiates from other genres. A great into and confidence builder for writers.
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Jan 24, 2012
Valerie
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Found his book How To Write A Damn Good Novel much better than this one. There are a lot of similarities and repetition between the two books, but this one focuses specifically on the mystery genre. Good tips for mystery writers, with detailed examples.
Jan 01, 2010
Heidi
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Not the best. A lot of time spent dissecting one of his own novels, which I found tedious.
Mar 27, 2010
Marva
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Not as good as Roerden's Don't Murder Your Mystery, but does have some good advice.
Apr 16, 2011
earthy
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I like Frey's irreverent tone, and I do think he has some good advice for writers, but the story he mocks up is full of cliches and uninteresting characters, and at times the prose makes it seem like he's very stuck on his way of doing things without acknowledging that different writers write differently. Worth a read, certainly, but you might get more out of his book The Key with its focus on archetypes and the hero's journey. A lot of that (and apparently material from his other books) is re
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Jul 21, 2008
Candy
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This book was extrememly helpful in plotting the mystery element of my romantic suspense. I learned a lot about mystery plotting and creating a murderer from Frey in this how-to. I read through the whole book in one day. So it's an easy, fast read. I took copious notes to help me with my own writing and advise others. I really enjoyed it.
Jun 29, 2009
Jean
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This one goes through step-by-step with a very methodical way of building your mystery. I think if you follow his approach, you will have less plot point edits on the backend. However, you will have to be careful not to plan everything out so much it takes the fun out of the actual writing and closes off surprises.
Aug 17, 2009
Benjamin
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I love books on writing. And I've enjoyed a few others by Frey. Damn Good Mystery is a fine practical and entertaining book on writing mysteries, however, much of his advice is reworked material from his other books.
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