Revealing the Secrets A mystery novel can either be a suspenseful, nail-biter, and page turner kind of book, or a Scooby-Doo kind of story where the bad guy is immediately identifiable. But what is it that makes those edge-of-seat types of mysteries? A mystery that is worth reading should have several key elements included in it. One mystery novel A Morbid Taste for Bones, written by Ellis Peters, combines many such key elements. This novel includes properties such as surprise endings, suspense and an exceptional detective. A surprise ending, also known as a plot twist, is extremely important in a mystery. After all, if one knows exactly who the guilty person is at the beginning of the story, then what is the point of continuing reading? In A Morbid Taste for Bones, Brother Cadfael, and the reader, believed that Peredur had something to do with Rhisiart’s death, as he acts extremely guilty, or even Prior Robert, the one with the most motives to kill him. But in the end it was the Monk Columbanus who kills Rhisiart. This plot twist keeps the story interesting while also allowing the reader to believe innocent people guilty, and guilty people innocent. …show more content…
After all, “Good books don’t give up all their secrets at once” (Stephen King). It is the suspense that makes readers continue to turn the pages, and the suspense is what makes most people who love mysteries love them. Brother Cadfael did not know all the answers to the problem, and neither does the reader. The reader are left in the dark as to crucial details, and when they are discovered, one becomes even more intrigued as to the final solution. Adding to the suspense is usually a dark mood and a creepy effect. These effects keep the readers turning the pages to discover