Why do people like to read mysteries? How is a mystery different from other fiction novels?

Why do people like to read mysteries? How is a mystery different from other fiction novels?

People have a tendency to like to try and figure things out for themselves.  Mysteries get the brain working and the intellect going.  Some mysteries can be very complicated while others are not.  There are mysteries for all age groups and reading levels as well as intellectual levels.  People also tend to like the element of surprise and the very best mysteries have this element.

Mysteries are different than other novels because although all novels may use foreshadowing, mysteries use clues.  Foreshadowing may be a part of the clues.  There are also usually twists and turns that are expected ad unexpected.

What readers enjoy about a mystery is the intellectual challenge. A mystery often presents a problem, (most specifically a crime or a specific ill against a character or community) at the beginning and then offers clues that the reader can put together in order to hypothesize about a resolution. If it is in the form of a chapter novel, the end of each chapter usually includes a cliff-hanger.

If you take a look at some of the current mysteries on television, like the series 24 for example, people want to come back to watch the next week because a dramatic complication happens at the end of the current week's episode.

Take a look at enotes.com's criticism provided below to further understand.

For myself I like to read a mystery for a couple of reasons, one is that they usually involve clues that you have to put together like a puzzle. Another reason is that most good mysteries allow you to "get away" from the real world for a short time!

A good mystery will keep the reader on his mental toes throughout the story. Mysteries tend to get the reader more involved with the storyline as well as attempting to solve the problems at hand. A good, surprise ending is often a necessity, leaving the reader more satisfied when the story finally comes to an end.

I agree with the concensus. Most readers are more engaged in reading if they are actively involved and questioning the text. Mystery novels make this much easier than let’s say--books on education reform. Also mysteries are a means of escape from the reality of our lives whereas other types of novels might not be as much.

While they are an escape from reality, mysteries are, in a sense, are a simulated reality that the reader can control.  When the reader solves a mystery, he/she may feel a renewed sense of esteeem and confidence that he/she may not have had in his/her life where things are beyond one's control.

People like to read mysteries because it is one of the few genres of literature that invites the reader into the story to find the culprit as well. I have written several papers on mystery stories and you can find two at :

http://www.asian-efl-journal.com/sept_03_sub5ejp.pdf

http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED503224

I totally agree with you. Reading mysteries are very challenging and while some are not so challenging. It helps the person get to thinking more

It is stimulating to try and pick up on the clues the author leaves behind for us to follow.  Reading a mystery, you know that there is a puzzle to be solved and that there will be twist/turns along the way.

With a non-mystery fiction, I tend to try and identify with the characters rather than examine them.  I don't usually question their motives unless the main character does.  Essentially, I get caught up in the story, but with the mystery I am trying to outsmart the characters.