For me, it's a combination of complex characters and a twisty plot. The detective has to be smart and relatable, and the suspects should all have motives that seem plausible. Also, the setting and atmosphere can add a lot to the appeal.
The mystery and suspense! A good whodunit keeps you guessing until the very end. The clues need to be there but not too obvious.
A good one has a complex plot with lots of twists and turns. The mystery has to keep you guessing till the end, and the characters need to be well-developed and interesting.
A good plot twist, complex characters, and a cleverly constructed mystery. These elements keep readers engaged and guessing until the end.
The element of mystery and the unknown. A good detective novel in this genre keeps you guessing and the alien abduction aspect adds an otherworldly element that makes it really engaging.
One classic is 'Sherlock Holmes' series by Arthur Conan Doyle. It features the brilliant detective Sherlock Holmes and his loyal friend Dr. Watson solving complex mysteries in Victorian London. Another is 'Agatha Christie's 'Murder on the Orient Express'. In this novel, Hercule Poirot has to figure out who committed the murder on a train filled with a diverse cast of characters. Also, 'The Maltese Falcon' by Dashiell Hammett is a great example. It follows detective Sam Spade as he gets involved in a hunt for a valuable statuette.
In 'whodunit' in detective fiction, one key element is the cast of characters. There are usually a number of suspects, each with their own motives, alibis, and secrets. Another important element is the setting. It can provide clues or be used to mislead the reader. For example, a locked room mystery often has a very specific setting that adds to the intrigue. And of course, the clues are crucial. They can be physical items like a weapon or a piece of jewelry, or they can be statements made by the characters that seem odd or out of place.
The mystery and the way Holmes uses his brilliant deduction skills. A good short story keeps you engaged and guessing until the end.
The combination of two seemingly unrelated elements like witness protection and alien abduction creates a unique and exciting plot. It keeps readers on the edge of their seats as they try to figure out how these two themes will intersect.
The mystery aspect is a big draw. Readers love trying to figure out who did it before the end. For example, in 'Gone Girl', the constant twists keep you guessing. Also, the complex characters add to the appeal. They often have their own secrets and motives that are slowly revealed. And the settings in modern whodunit novels can be really interesting, like the small town in 'The Dry' which has its own unique atmosphere.
The mystery aspect. In short whodunit stories, you have a puzzle to solve. For example, in a story where a necklace is missing from a locked jewelry box. There are suspects, and you want to figure out who did it just like the detective in the story. It's like a mental game.
First, create an interesting detective character. Give them unique quirks like Sherlock Holmes' deductive reasoning skills. Second, have a complex mystery. Maybe it involves a secret society or a hidden treasure. Third, introduce a variety of suspects, each with their own motives. For example, in a murder mystery, one suspect could be after the victim's money, another for revenge.