I have always loved mystery novels. I loved how they revealed human nature. I loved that the most unlikely people had remarkable powers of observation which revealed facts from which the detective could logically reason to solve crime. The classic detectives never did anything so stupid as to rush off to confront the killer without anyone knowing where they were going. They did not fumble around interviewing potential suspects and annoying the everyone in town and tipping off the suspects. While the police were naturally not the geniuses that the detective might be, neither was every police person a hopeless idiot. Not every suspect was an innocent person who was wrongly accused. The detective did not have to be rescued at the last minute by someone who was saving the detective from the detective’s own idiocy.
Some plot devices have been used so often that they have become a little stale. I do know that coming up with new ideas is difficult. Still, the plots could stand minor variations. Perhaps a detective well known for explosions, might not have one in a particular book. I am reluctant give specific, detailed examples, because I do not want to be sued. Perhaps the detective’s love life might not play such a prominent role in every book. I admit there is a series I enjoy where I admit that my primary reason to read the next book is “what will happen between character A and character B”?
Here are some examples of things I think have gotten a little stale.
There is the person whose occupation, such as food preparation or medical care, that could kill someone and that person is wrongly accused of murder. The accused may either work in that kind of occupation or know the accused and be begged either by the accused or a mutual friend to clear the accused and find the real killer.
There is the killer whose occupation or hobby provides an opportunity for theft and has a terrible secret which would ruin the killer’s life. The killer is then motivated to kill the original owner of the stolen goods or money making idea. It helps if the stealing of the idea ruined the theft victim’s career.
Please, Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot, and Nero Wolfe did not have romantic relationships that are ever mentioned. Can you see Sherlock Holmes having a girlfriend? Sherlock did confront killers, but he was a excellent wrestler and an excellent shot. He also had the good sense to have Dr. Watson with him. Dr. Watson had been a solider and could be expected to know something about combat. They went together and often had police backup. People who are sole proprietors of businesses do not usually have brilliant and talented staff, who are willing to work for very little money, and do not mind that the boss keeps running off to solve mysteries. Proprietors who behaved this way would not be proprietors very long.
I know, believe me I know, that these stories are fiction. Still, the settings and characters should not strain credibility. Naturally, mysteries set in science fiction, fantasy, or other supernatural settings, are free to make up any thing they want.