Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Finding Valhalla: An Investigation Of Writing In The Mystery Genre, Patricia Shea

Senior Honors Projects

John Truby states in The Anatomy of Story that, “Once you set up a hero and an opponent competing for the same goal, you must build up that conflict steadily until the final battle. Your purpose is to put constant pressure on your hero, because this is what will force him to change,” (Truby 94). Narratives often adhere to these principles, especially in the genre of mystery writing. In this genre, figuring out how your protagonist is going to solve their problem, and the steps they take to get there, is essential to laying the groundwork and clues for any …