Mystery fiction is a loosely-defined term.

1.It is often used as a synonym for detective fiction or crime fiction— in other words a novel or short story in which a detective (either professional or amateur) investigates and solves a crime mystery. Sometimes mystery books are nonfiction. The term "mystery fiction" may sometimes be limited to the subset of detective stories in which the emphasis is on the puzzle/suspense element and its logical solution (cf. whodunit), as a contrast to hardboiled detective stories, which focus on action and gritty realism.

2.Although normally associated with the crime genre, the term "mystery fiction" may in certain situations refer to a completely different genre, where the focus is on supernatural or thriller mystery (the solution doesn't have to be logical, and even no crime is involved). This usage was common in the pulp magazines of the 1930s and 1940s, where titles such as Dime Mystery, Thrilling Mystery and Spicy Mystery offered what at the time were described as "weird menace" stories – supernatural horror in the vein of Grand Guignol. This contrasted with parallel titles of the same names which contained conventional hardboiled crime fiction. The first use of "mystery" in this sense was by Dime Mystery, which started out as an ordinary crime fiction magazine but switched to "weird menace" during the latter part of 1933.

Noun

mystery (plural mysteries)

1. Something secret or unexplainable; unknown.

   The truth behind the events remains a mystery.

2. Someone or thing with an obscure or puzzling nature.

   That man is a mystery.

3. (Catholicism) A particular event or series of events in the life of Christ.

   The second decade of the Rosary concerns the Sorrowful mysteries, such as the crucifixion and the crowning with thorns.

Synonyms

• roun (obsolete)

www.digitalmystery.com
... arts/online_writing/fiction/genres/mystery ... digital_mystery/web.htm http://www.digitalmystery.com/digital ... mystery/web.htm http://www.digitalmystery.com/mystery_fiction/
www.digitalmystery.com/urllist.txt

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• Series Stories (1)
• Short Stories (3)

• ClaudiaM's Art Site
  claudiam.com
  Art related site containing Claudia Markovich's mystery novel entitled, "Nikola's Nightmares - A Mystery in the Art World".
• Detective Lieutenant Nick DeLeon
  angelfire.com
  Original, hardboiled detective pulp-fiction. Offers text-only or multi-media options.
• Mysteries of Time
  members.multimania.co.uk
  Kendrick lived in the 2nd century and was amazed if not a little surprised when he invented a radio.