title: You Can Write a Mystery
author: Gillian Roberts
description: Roberts, author of the Amanda Pepper mystery series, delivers a solid overview of the genre for aspiring crime writers. Unlike many authors of how-to-write guides, she largely avoids aphorisms, sticking instead to concrete details. She is particularly good on how to structure a crime story ("What has to happen before the rest can happen?") and how to build a plot through false leads. Her discussion of character development is also helpful, particularly her tips on creating a history for the people in your story: "A character can do anything you like, if he has a reason and the reason comes out of his history." Along with analysis of the literary aspects of mystery writing, Roberts also surveys such practical matters as grammar, punctuation, and how to submit the manuscript. If character and setting are what distinguish the best mysteries, failed plot mechanics are invariably what derail the worst. Roberts' basic but too-often-overlooked advice will help keep your story on track. <i>Ilene Cooper</i>
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  ![ht](../images/00003.jpeg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ALSO BY MELINDA LEIGH
  
  
  
  
  
  BREE TAGGERT NOVELS
  
  
  
  
  
  _Cross Her Heart_
  
  
  
  
  
  _See Her Die_
  
  
  
  
  
  MORGAN DANE NOVELS
  
  
  
  
  
  _Say You’re Sorry_
  
  
  
  
  
  _Her Last Goodbye_
  
  
  
  
  
  _Bones Don’t Lie_
  
  
  
  
  
  _What I’ve Done_
  
  
  
  
  
  _Secrets Never Die_
  
  
  
  
  
  _Save Your Breath_
  
  
  
  
  
  SCARLET FALLS NOVELS
  
  
  
  
  
  _Hour of Need_
  
  
  
  
  
  _Minutes to Kill_
  
  
  
  
  
  _Seconds to Live_
  
  
  
  
  
  SHE CAN SERIES
  
  
  
  
  
  _She Can Run_
  
  
  
  
  
  _She Can Tell_
  
  
  
  
  
  _She Can Scream_
  
  
  
  
  
  _She Can Hide_
  
  
  
  
  
  _“He Can Fall”_ (A Short Story)
  
  
  
  
  
  _She Can Kill_
  
  
  
  
  
  MIDNIGHT NOVELS
  
  
  
  
  
  _Midnight Exposure_
  
  
  
  
  
  _Midnight Sacrifice_
  
  
  
  
  
  _Midnight Betrayal_
  
  
  
  
  
  _Midnight Obsession_
  
  
  
  
  
  THE ROGUE SERIES NOVELLAS
  
  
  
  
  
  _Gone to Her Grave_ (Rogue River)
  
  
  
  
  
  _Walking on Her Grave_ (Rogue River)
  
  
  
  
  
  _Tracks of Her Tears_ (Rogue Winter)
  
  
  
  
  
  _Burned by Her Devotion_ (Rogue Vows)
  
  
  
  
  
  _Twisted Truth_ (Rogue Justice)
  
  
  
  
  
  THE WIDOW’S ISLAND NOVELLA SERIES
  
  
  
  
  
  _A Bone to Pick_
  
  
  
  
  
  _Wh