What is the formula for a mystery novel?

Question: What is the formula for a mystery novel!?

Books by Agatha Christie, etc!. What is the layout of the formula they use!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

I think your question is way too broad!. Agatha Christie's books cannot be categories all into a "formula!."

As mysteries, most go with the quest plot!. There is a crime, mostly murder, followed by the detection, which consists of clues (some planted and some visible), asking of questions, and possibly other crimes!. The hero/protagonist/detective sees past the false clues and uncovers the truth, though justice may or may not be done!.

Christie also wrote a number of thrillers and capers!. Books like The Man in the Brown Suit and Why Didn't They Ask Evans could not be called traditional mysteries!.

So perhaps while her Poirot/Marple books could be considered more formulaic, it's hard to put all of her works into a formula!. Www@QuestionHome@Com