A review by richellegoodrich
How to Write a Mystery: A Handbook from Mystery Writers of America by Lee Child, Laurie R. King

informative medium-paced

4.5

 I picked up this book out of curiosity, hoping to gain some insight into the secrets of writing a mystery. What I found was a treasure of excellent advice not only for putting together a mystery story but for basic story development, self-publishing, and marketing in general. I recommend this book to anyone serious about the writing process. I jotted down pages of notes, and hopefully my writing efforts will improve as I put to use the advice offered in this book. Many successful authors contributed their opinions and learning to this book, each one addressing a particular topic. It was interesting that some of the contributing authors gave advice that conflicted with that of other contributing authors. It goes to show you that there is not one road to success. Preferences, personalities, and perseverance play a large part in how one approaches the task of writing a book. Again, there is a wealth of helpful information here for anyone serious about professional writing.