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Mystery

Definition

Mystery is a genre of literature that revolves around solving puzzles or uncovering secrets. It typically involves suspenseful elements such as crime, detective work, and hidden motives.

Analogy

Reading a mystery novel is like being a detective trying to solve a complex puzzle. You gather clues along the way and piece them together to unravel the mystery.

Related terms

Detective Fiction: Detective fiction refers specifically to stories that focus on crime-solving protagonists who use their deductive skills to solve mysteries.

Whodunit: Whodunit is another term for mystery stories where the main question revolves around identifying the culprit responsible for the crime.

Suspense: Suspense refers to the feeling of anticipation or tension created by uncertain outcomes in mystery literature.

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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.