--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't believe that murders can be…" description: "\"I don't believe that murders can be \"solved.\" I think that this is the big lie of the mystery novel, that you should close the book and feel that the w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/880/george-pelecanos-3616_believe_i-don-t-believe-that-murders-can-be-solv_1552529.jpg" --- # I don't believe that murders can be "solved." I think that… ![“I don't believe that murders can be "solved." I think that this is the big lie of the mystery novel, that you should close the book and feel that the world is back in order and everything's all right. I want the reader to know that the world is not all right, and maybe we ought to do something…” quote by George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/880/george-pelecanos-3616_believe_i-don-t-believe-that-murders-can-be-solv_1552529.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/880/george-pelecanos-3616_believe_i-don-t-believe-that-murders-can-be-solv_1552529.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/880/george-pelecanos-3616_believe_i-don-t-believe-that-murders-can-be-solv_1552529.jpg) > “I don't believe that murders can be "solved." I think that this is the big lie of the mystery novel, that you should close the book and feel that the world is back in order and everything's all right. I want the reader to know that the world is not all right, and maybe we ought to do something about it.” [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mystery stories often falsely promise resolution, masking ongoing societal issues that need action. **In simple terms:** Mysteries can mislead about real problems. Key Takeaway Recognize unresolved issues. Themes literature social critique reality Mood critical thought‑provoking Type literary political When to use this quote - reading - activism - media analysis Key Concepts narrative closure social responsibility illusion Questions to Reflect On - How do stories influence perception of reality? - What actions can follow awareness? A Different Perspective May generalize all mystery works. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Murder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murder/) [Mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery/) [Mystery novels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery-novels/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [It's important to write a mystery novel where the takeaway is not a giveaway - where something could be read over and over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimenez-lai/it-s-important-to-write-a-mystery-novel-where-the-takeaway-is-not-a/) [Jimenez Lai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimenez-lai/) > [A mystery novel localizes the awesome force of the real death outside the book, winds it tightly in a plot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/a-mystery-novel-localizes-the-awesome-force-of-the-real-death-outside/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [Has all the trappings of a mystery novel, doesn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-cornwell/has-all-the-trappings-of-a-mystery-novel-doesn-t-it/) [Patricia Cornwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-cornwell/) > [“The solution, once revealed, must seem to have been inevitable. At least half of all the mystery novels published violate this law." ( Casual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/the-solution-once-revealed-must-seem-to-have-been-inevitable-at-least/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [I had thought for years, probably 30 or 40 years, that it would be a lot of fun to try my hand at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bradley/i-had-thought-for-years-probably-30-or-40-years-that-it-would-be-a/) [Alan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bradley/) > [“Honestly, I suspect that in this day and age most murders could be solved by the correct Google search. It could be a web…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-wirestone/honestly-i-suspect-that-in-this-day-and-age-most-murders-could-be/) Max Wirestone > [Except for cases that clearly involve a homicidal maniac, the police like to believe murders are committed by those we know and love, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-grafton/except-for-cases-that-clearly-involve-a-homicidal-maniac-the-police/) [Sue Grafton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-grafton/) > [There is something a little vulgar about writing a novel that is too close to the present, too concerned with current events, too eager…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-dean/there-is-something-a-little-vulgar-about-writing-a-novel-that-is-too/) [Michelle Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-dean/) > [I don't see the direct correlation between my personal life and the novel I'm writing until I'm at the end of the novel or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-foos/i-don-t-see-the-direct-correlation-between-my-personal-life-and-the/) [Laurie Foos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-foos/) > [“Great mystery novel for the beach. Just when you think you know where the plot is going, it goes somewhere else. Big surprise ending!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-a-milman/great-mystery-novel-for-the-beach-just-when-you-think-you-know-where/) Harry A. Milman > [If you're reading a mystery novel, you kind of want the character to solve the crime instead of completely bumble their way through it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-shaffer/if-you-re-reading-a-mystery-novel-you-kind-of-want-the-character-to/) [Andrew Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-shaffer/) > [There are two ways to approach the writing of a mystery novel: adhere to the rules, or break them with glee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-weinman/there-are-two-ways-to-approach-the-writing-of-a-mystery-novel-adhere/) [Sarah Weinman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-weinman/) > [Although we might think of Holmes as the Ur-sleuth, the seminal inspiration for many writers comes not from the chronicles of Baker Street but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-weinman/although-we-might-think-of-holmes-as-the-ur-sleuth-the-seminal/) [Sarah Weinman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-weinman/) > [“There is only one motive for writing a novel: to be published and read. To me there is no distinction between the mystery novel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-franklin-bardin/there-is-only-one-motive-for-writing-a-novel-to-be-published-and-read/) John Franklin Bardin > [Secrecy can be sexy. It's essential to any good mystery novel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-brooke/secrecy-can-be-sexy-it-s-essential-to-any-good-mystery-novel/) [Heather Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-brooke/) ## More by George Pelecanos > [I want to be read. When you write a TV show like 'The Wire,' you've got three to four million readers watching your work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-want-to-be-read-when-you-write-a-tv-show-like-the-wire-you-ve-got/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [I'm more apt to shed a tear than my wife about family matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-m-more-apt-to-shed-a-tear-than-my-wife-about-family-matters/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [People like to talk to me. I don't know why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/people-like-to-talk-to-me-i-don-t-know-why/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [I'm a very sentimental, emotional person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-m-a-very-sentimental-emotional-person/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [My goal is to get a real film industry started in Washington. An actual one, not where features come to town and shoot second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/my-goal-is-to-get-a-real-film-industry-started-in-washington-an/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [I do have shout-outs to bands and musicians I like in my books, but the musical references can be misunderstood. Often, I have people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-do-have-shout-outs-to-bands-and-musicians-i-like-in-my-books-but/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [“And Constantine thought: So this is how it is, at the end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/and-constantine-thought-so-this-is-how-it-is-at-the-end/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [I never took a writing class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-never-took-a-writing-class/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [I've just been very interested in the living side of Washington, rather than the federal side, since I was a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-ve-just-been-very-interested-in-the-living-side-of-washington/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [I can't relax. I don't have any hobbies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-can-t-relax-i-don-t-have-any-hobbies/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [I've seen firsthand how books can change people's lives. It happened to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-ve-seen-firsthand-how-books-can-change-people-s-lives-it-happened/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [I was a movie freak before I was a book lover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-was-a-movie-freak-before-i-was-a-book-lover/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [Is there a more violent book than the Bible?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/is-there-a-more-violent-book-than-the-bible/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [My father was a Marine who fought in the Pacific in WW II. He was a very tough guy, but after the war, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/my-father-was-a-marine-who-fought-in-the-pacific-in-ww-ii-he-was-a/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [But when I do book signings and personal appearances, the audiences are mostly white. Growing up here, I expected that and understand it. Black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/but-when-i-do-book-signings-and-personal-appearances-the-audiences/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) [Explore all 126 George Pelecanos quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't believe that murders can be \"solved.\" I think that this is the big lie of the mystery novel, that you should close the book and feel that the world is back in order and everything's all right. I want the reader to know that the world is not all right, and maybe we ought to do something about it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Pelecanos" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-don-t-believe-that-murders-can-be-solved-i-think-that-this-is-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-don-t-believe-that-murders-can-be-solved-i-think-that-this-is-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/880/george-pelecanos-3616_believe_i-don-t-believe-that-murders-can-be-solv_1552529.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/880/george-pelecanos-3616_believe_i-don-t-believe-that-murders-can-be-solv_1552529.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/880/george-pelecanos-3616_believe_i-don-t-believe-that-murders-can-be-solv_1552529.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't believe that murders can be \"solved.\" I think that this is the big lie of the mystery novel, that…” — George Pelecanos", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "George Pelecanos", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't believe that murders can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-don-t-believe-that-murders-can-be-solved-i-think-that-this-is-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-don-t-believe-that-murders-can-be-solved-i-think-that-this-is-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```