Time traveling can add mystery in many ways. For example, it can create plot twists. When a character travels through time, the rules of the world they know are broken. Things that were certain become uncertain. This makes the reader constantly question what is going on.
In a time traveling mystery novel, the time travel itself can be a mystery. The characters might not know how or why they are traveling through time. They have to figure out the mechanism behind it while also dealing with other mysteries in the different time periods they visit. It's like having a mystery within a mystery. And the time travel can also bring about changes in the timeline that are not immediately obvious, adding another layer of mystery as the characters try to piece together what has been altered and why.
Archeology often provides a sense of the unknown and the ancient. In mystery fiction, it can be a source of hidden secrets, like in 'The Da Vinci Code' where the archeological findings are keys to unlocking a great mystery. Ancient symbols, tombs, and artifacts add an air of mystery as they hold stories from the past that are not fully understood.
The hidden door adds suspense because it represents the unknown. Readers wonder what's behind it, like it could be a clue or a danger.
Split personality adds an extra layer of mystery. When a character has a split personality, it's difficult to tell which personality is responsible for the murder. For example, in 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', it keeps the reader guessing whether the good Dr. Jekyll has any control over the evil actions of Mr. Hyde. This uncertainty makes the plot more engaging.
One popular one is 'The Time Traveler's Wife' by Audrey Niffenegger. It combines time travel and a complex love story with elements of mystery as the main character jumps through time in an unpredictable way.
The security door can hide things. For example, the male lead has a secret room behind the security door. The female lead is curious about it and this mystery draws her closer to the male lead.
It could play a role in character development. As time passes, characters may change, learn, and grow. Their experiences over time shape who they become in the story.
A literary mystery novel often has more complex characters. For example, in a regular mystery novel, the detective might be a simple good - guy - catches - bad - guy type. But in a literary mystery like 'The Name of the Rose', the characters are multi - dimensional, with their own beliefs, desires, and flaws that are deeply intertwined with the mystery. Also, the writing style is usually more elaborate. A regular mystery might be more straightforward in its prose, while a literary mystery can have beautiful and detailed descriptions like in 'Rebecca' where the setting of Manderley is almost a character in itself.
It might mean that the so - called mystery in the novel is too obvious or poorly constructed. Maybe the plot twists are predictable and lack the element of true mystery that one would expect from a mystery novel.
One way is if the plot is too simple. For instance, if it's just a basic story of a crime and the perpetrator is immediately known.
The 'unspeakable things' in mystery novels often add to the suspense because they are disturbing and unexpected. For example, in a mystery where there are occult - related 'unspeakable things' like in some horror - mystery hybrids, the unknown nature of these elements keeps the reader on edge. They create a sense of dread and anticipation as the reader wonders how these elements will be resolved or uncovered.