--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why are murder mysteries so popular?…" description: "\"Why are murder mysteries so popular? There's a 3-part \"formula\" (if you want to call it that) for a genre novel: (1) Someone the reader likes and relat..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fe/lois-duncan-38124_difficult_why-are-murder-mysteries-so-popular-ther_1949759.jpg" --- # Why are murder mysteries so popular? There's a 3-part… ![“Why are murder mysteries so popular? There's a 3-part "formula" (if you want to call it that) for a genre novel: (1) Someone the reader likes and relates to (2) overcomes increasingly difficult obstacles (3) to reach an important goal. The more important the goal, the stronger the novel. And the…” quote by Lois Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fe/lois-duncan-38124_difficult_why-are-murder-mysteries-so-popular-ther_1949759.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fe/lois-duncan-38124_difficult_why-are-murder-mysteries-so-popular-ther_1949759.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fe/lois-duncan-38124_difficult_why-are-murder-mysteries-so-popular-ther_1949759.jpg) > “Why are murder mysteries so popular? There's a 3-part "formula" (if you want to call it that) for a genre novel: (1) Someone the reader likes and relates to (2) overcomes increasingly difficult obstacles (3) to reach an important goal. The more important the goal, the stronger the novel. And the most important goal that any of us have is survival. That's why murder mysteries are more gripping than a story titled "Who Stole My TV Set.” [Lois Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-duncan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Murder mysteries captivate because they combine relatable protagonists, escalating challenges, and high‑stakes survival goals, making the narrative intensely engaging. **In simple terms:** Murder mysteries hook us with relatable heroes, tough obstacles, and survival stakes. Key Takeaway Focus on relatable characters, escalating conflict, and survival themes. Themes story suspense survival character conflict goal engagement Mood intrigued curious analytical Type literary analytical inspirational When to use this quote - Writing workshops - book clubs - screenplay development - marketing pitches Key Concepts Narrative structure psychology of fear human survival instinct Questions to Reflect On - How does character relatability affect tension? - What other high‑stakes goals could replace survival? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on formula can stifle originality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Genre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genre/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Murder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murder/) [Murder mysteries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murder-mysteries/) [Mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles/) [Overcoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcoming/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Survival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survival/) ## Related quotes > [Among books, one of my early favorites was Gurunath Naik, a Marathi novelist. His mysteries were very popular in the 70s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-kulkarni/among-books-one-of-my-early-favorites-was-gurunath-naik-a-marathi/) [Atul Kulkarni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-kulkarni/) > [“Your average genre novel is like a high speed car chase ending in a massive crash, with death, destruction, and balls of flame, from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willduquette/your-average-genre-novel-is-like-a-high-speed-car-chase-ending-in-a/) Willduquette > [“Mulut manusia itu persis seperti genre novel, ada fiksi, biografi (pencitraan), terkadang horor, drama (terlalu dilebih-lebihkan), kerjaannya ngerayu sok romance, kayak fabel yang tiap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nom-de-plume/mulut-manusia-itu-persis-seperti-genre-novel-ada-fiksi-biografi/) nom de plume > [I don't think I will write anything that could be even remotely considered a genre novel from this point on. I think I've graduated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ellroy/i-don-t-think-i-will-write-anything-that-could-be-even-remotely/) [James Ellroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ellroy/) > [Murder mysteries are puzzles that are fun to resolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-reichs/murder-mysteries-are-puzzles-that-are-fun-to-resolve/) [Kathy Reichs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-reichs/) > [It's OK to figure out murder mysteries, but you shouldn't need to figure out code. You should be able to read it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcconnell/it-s-ok-to-figure-out-murder-mysteries-but-you-shouldn-t-need-to/) [Steve McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcconnell/) > [Paperbacks weren't considered real books in the book trade. Up till then it was just murder mysteries, potboilers, 25-cent pocket books sold in newsstands.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-ferlinghetti/paperbacks-weren-t-considered-real-books-in-the-book-trade-up-till/) [Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-ferlinghetti/) > [I love the thriller genre generally. I like murder mysteries and those kinds of adventure stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-love-the-thriller-genre-generally-i-like-murder-mysteries-and-those/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [It's an honour to have such a wonderful international cast on board for this world famous murder mystery. Writer Stewart Harcourt has created an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suchet/it-s-an-honour-to-have-such-a-wonderful-international-cast-on-board/) [David Suchet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suchet/) > [I love adult thrillers and murder mysteries and everything like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lana-condor/i-love-adult-thrillers-and-murder-mysteries-and-everything-like-that/) [Lana Condor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lana-condor/) > [“You'd have thought that after twenty years editing murder mysteries I'd have noticed when I found myself in the middle of one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-horowitz/you-d-have-thought-that-after-twenty-years-editing-murder-mysteries-i/) [Anthony Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-horowitz/) > [“It had always been a part of his job which he found difficult, the total lack of privacy for the victim. Murder stripped away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-d-james-2/it-had-always-been-a-part-of-his-job-which-he-found-difficult-the/) [P.D. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-james-2/) > [“Personally I like the English style better. It is not quite so brittle, and the people as a rule, just wear clothes and drink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/personally-i-like-the-english-style-better-it-is-not-quite-so-brittle/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [... in the nineteen-thirties ... the most casual reader of murder mysteries could infallibly detect the villain, as soon as there entered a character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/in-the-nineteen-thirties-the-most-casual-reader-of-murder-mysteries/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [You can approach 'The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death' in a variety or combination of ways: as a startlingly eccentric hobby; as a series…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gottlieb/you-can-approach-the-nutshell-studies-of-unexplained-death-in-a/) [Robert Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gottlieb/) ## More by Lois Duncan > [aloud she said why not you ray you were involed in this as much as the resst of uswhy is it that bud never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-duncan/aloud-she-said-why-not-you-ray-you-were-involed-in-this-as-much-as/) [Lois Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-duncan/) > [“It's only by facing things that you ever put them behind you. -Mrs. McConnell to Susan”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-duncan/it-s-only-by-facing-things-that-you-ever-put-them-behind-you-mrs/) [Lois Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-duncan/) > [People do not spring forth out of the blue, fully formed – they become themselves slowly, day by day, starting from babyhood. They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-duncan/people-do-not-spring-forth-out-of-the-blue-fully-formed-they-become/) [Lois Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-duncan/) > [If there were a mile high mountain of granite, and once every ten-thousand years a bird flew past and brushed it with a feather,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-duncan/if-there-were-a-mile-high-mountain-of-granite-and-once-every-ten/) [Lois Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-duncan/) > [December is a month that is rife with nostalgia. If there's anything deep in your heart that you want to keep buried, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-duncan/december-is-a-month-that-is-rife-with-nostalgia-if-there-s-anything/) [Lois Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-duncan/) > [Writers 'get started' the day they are born. The minds they bring into the world with them are the amazing machines their stories will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-duncan/writers-get-started-the-day-they-are-born-the-minds-they-bring-into/) [Lois Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-duncan/) > [Sit down every day and DO IT. Writing is a self-taught craft; the more you work at it, the more skilled you become. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-duncan/sit-down-every-day-and-do-it-writing-is-a-self-taught-craft-the-more/) [Lois Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-duncan/) > [Life continues, and we all of us keep changing and building, toward what we cannot know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-duncan/life-continues-and-we-all-of-us-keep-changing-and-building-toward/) [Lois Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-duncan/) > [“she thought ray i'll never see ray again there was a time she looked into those green eyes and said i love you so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-duncan/she-thought-ray-i-ll-never-see-ray-again-there-was-a-time-she-looked/) [Lois Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-duncan/) > [We are the wise. Do not envy us— We who are too wise to draw near the fire Lest we get burned; We who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-duncan/we-are-the-wise-do-not-envy-us-we-who-are-too-wise-to-draw-near-the/) [Lois Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-duncan/) > [“College guys are different. They’re looking for quality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-duncan/college-guys-are-different-they-re-looking-for-quality/) [Lois Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-duncan/) [Explore all 12 Lois Duncan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-duncan/) ## More Crime quotes > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [“Crime and punishment can be summed up in two classifications: there are bad people and there are people who get into bad situations. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/crime-and-punishment-can-be-summed-up-in-two-classifications-there/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [“The jailers, the Court, everyone in that building – it wasn’t about justice; it was about obedience and intimidation…about maintaining order. Fear accomplished that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/the-jailers-the-court-everyone-in-that-building-it-wasn-t-about/) [Jay Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-allan/) > [Taking notes while watching Forensic Files and Snapped. I don't want to make the same mistakes the criminals do! ;)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/taking-notes-while-watching-forensic-files-and-snapped-i-don-t-want/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [A man could be a lover and defender of the wilderness without ever in his lifetime leaving the boundaries of asphalt, powerlines, and right-angled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/a-man-could-be-a-lover-and-defender-of-the-wilderness-without-ever-in/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [Nations sometimes flourish by denying the crimes that brought them into being. Only when the original invasion, occupation, extermination or usurpation has been safely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/nations-sometimes-flourish-by-denying-the-crimes-that-brought-them/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [The danger that may really threaten (crime fiction) is that soon there will be more writers than readers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-danger-that-may-really-threaten-crime-fiction-is-that-soon-there/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [“a crime to fell a tree and light it on fire, where coals of hardened shit warmed and stunk up homes,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/a-crime-to-fell-a-tree-and-light-it-on-fire-where-coals-of-hardened/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [A great read; an exciting, frightening account of organized crime today. But like all important works of nonfiction, it goes further… This book is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/le-ly-hayslip/a-great-read-an-exciting-frightening-account-of-organized-crime-today/) [Le Ly Hayslip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/le-ly-hayslip/) > [History is the study of the world's crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/history-is-the-study-of-the-world-s-crime/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [If it comes to a question of law, the charges they brought against me - the Espionage Act - is called the quintessential political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-it-comes-to-a-question-of-law-the-charges-they-brought-against-me/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [Too much virtue can be criminal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/too-much-virtue-can-be-criminal/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [The federal prison population increased by almost 800 percent between 1980 and 2013, often at a far faster rate than the Bureau of Prisons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-yates/the-federal-prison-population-increased-by-almost-800-percent-between/) [Sally Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-yates/) > [ \[P\]rogress, however, has not sufficiently infiltrated the Interior Ministry, affording protection to those who participated in the Bytyqi murders and other egregious Milosevic-era crimes. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avis-bohlen/p-rogress-however-has-not-sufficiently-infiltrated-the-interior/) Avis Bohlen [Browse all 8,359 Crime quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Why are murder mysteries so popular? 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