Unravelling Mystery Fiction: The Ultimate Guide to Mystery Subgenres (Part 2)

From Supernatural Mysteries To Mysteries Written Around The World

And I’m back with the second part of Unravelling Mystery Fiction: The Ultimate Guide to Mystery Subgenres! Please see the embedded post below if you’d like to read part one.

Now, without further ado, let’s get right back into it!

The Supernatural & Speculative Mystery Genres: Where Fantasy Meets Crime

Mystery fiction doesn’t necessarily have to be realistic or grounded within the “real world” as we understand it. It doesn’t always have to be technically possible, no matter how farfetched or outlandish. Sometimes, mystery ventures into something beyond reality - the supernatural, the futuristic, or the otherworldly.

Paranormal Mysteries: Ghosts, Psychics & Unexplained Crimes

Definition: In this subgenre of mystery, the crimes involved feature a supernatural element, and entities such as ghosts, witches, psychics, and wizards (to name a few) play a part.

Common Features: Apart from what I’ve already mentioned, there aren’t that many common features in paranormal mysteries. They can range from inexplicable mysteries and crimes set in the real world to an alternate setting where the supernatural is an accepted part of life, and there are even government agencies to deal with it. Based on the story, the protagonist may or may not hold supernatural powers themselves.

Examples: The Dresden Files (Jim Butcher), Lockwood & Co (Jonathan Stroud), Voyage of the Damned (Frances White).

Bonus Video: Why You Should Read Voyage of the Damned

Sci-Fi Mysteries: Crime in the Future

Definition: Here, rather than magic and fantasy, it’s a science fiction setting where factors such as artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technologies play a key role in the story.

Common Features: These are usually set in the future, often the distant future, where advanced technologies are crucial to daily life and also crime solving. Imagine something like a completely digital reconstruction of a crime scene that is highly realistic and allows the investigators to recreate the crime scene as they please.

Examples: Altered Carbon (Richard Morgan), The Caves of Steel (Isaac Asimov)

Thrilling and Action-Packed Mysteries

Some books blur the lines between various genres, such as crime fiction, mystery, action thrillers, and suspense novels. These can be hard to classify at times, but there are some common elements.

Serial Killer Mysteries: The Hunt for the Criminal Mind

Definition: These books focus on law enforcement and/or private investigators (PI) as they track serial killers who have a modus operandi (MO), which means that their killing has a discernible pattern to it.

Common Features: Serial killers can play a huge role in a mystery story, especially if they’re done right, and stories featuring them are generally fast-paced, action-packed, and have high stakes. There is a cat and mouse game between the killer and the detective/s, but the biggest element of these mysteries is psychological. Understanding why the serial killer acts the way they do is key, and there is tremendous psychological depth beyond them to be found as well. This could be in the victims, the detectives, or even the supporting cast of the book.

Examples: The Silence of the Lambs (Thomas Harris), The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Stieg Larsson), I Am Watching You (Teresa Driscoll).

Regional and Cultural Mystery Fiction: Mysteries from Around the World

Mystery fiction is written in languages beyond English, too, and many of these books have been translated into English for readers to enjoy, while regaining the cultural flavours and perspectives from their region. As you’d expect, different countries have different storytelling traditions, methods, detective archetypes, and social, cultural, and economic themes.

Nordic Noir: Dark, Atmospheric Scandinavian Crime Fiction

Definition: Nordic Noir, written in Scandinavia, is known for its signature slow burn storytelling, grittiness, and overall bleakness, with a cast of deeply flawed characters.

Common Features: Though not the most action-packed or fast-paced, the payoff to the slower, methodical approach is tremendous, and there is a great sense of tension building, with a heavy dose of suspense that gradually rises. These stories are set in cold, dark areas and can feature nihilistic themes, often (but not always) seen through the lens of the detectives. Additionally, Nordic Noir can explore relevant social themes such as corruption, which add as roadblocks to solving the crime.

Examples: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Stieg Larsson), The Snowman (Jo Nesbø), The Chestnut Man (Søren Sveistrup).

Japanese Mystery: Logic, Puzzles and Psychological Depth

Definition: Generally, Japanese mysteries are a mix of classical detective fiction, psychological thrillers, and locked-room murders. They’re also one of my favourite subgenres ever!

Common features: Japanese mysteries are quite varied, but there are still some elements that are present more often than not, such as an elaborate, almost puzzle-like plot. They often blend the core mystery with history, such as the difficulties of living in Japan after World War II. Psychology, both of the detective and the victim, plays a key role in understanding the mystery. Some of the best modern Japanese mysteries often focus on the why and how rather than the who, making them stand out.

Examples: The Devotion of Suspect X (Keigo Higashino), Malice (Keigo Higashino), Out (Natsuo Kirino).

Bonus Video: Why You Should Read Keigo Higashino

South Asian Mystery Fiction: Intrigue & Tradition

Definition: As an Indian, I feel happy writing about mysteries from the Global South! These mysteries blend crime fiction with social, political, religious, and historical themes.

Common Features: Set in either India, Pakistan, Bangladesh or other countries in South Asia, these mysteries are quite diverse. They can range from cosy crimes to darker, grittier criminal underworld storylines, historical mysteries from the British colonial era or earlier, and even terrorist plots. Like many other mysteries to originate from Asia, they often feature dialogues and terms from local languages such as Hindi, Urdu or Bengali, to name a few. Furthermore, they also feature elements of the complexities of culture, traditions, and heritage of the Global South to varying degrees.

Examples: That Night (Nidhi Upadhyay), The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra (Vaseem Khan), Sacred Games (Vikram Chandra).

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This brings to a close part 2 of Unravelling Mystery Fiction: The Ultimate Guide to Mystery Subgenres! Part 3, which should be out within a week or so, will be all about historical mysteries, ranging from the ancient to the 20th century, and everything in between. I hope you’ll join me for that.