Agatha Christie versus Modern Mystery Novel Writing

Jennifer Sadera
22 hours ago
3 min read

We all love a good mystery, don’t we?

Since the biblical story of Samson’s riddle, people have been fascinated by the paradox of finding good within adversity. Consider Samson’s famous brain teaser:

“Out of the eater, something to eat; out of the strong, something sweet.”

This riddling statement confronts readers with a revolutionary idea: how to sift through mystifying facts and situations to solve a puzzle.

Fast-forward more than 2,000 years to the first half of the 20^th century and you’ll discover crime writer Agatha Christie, often referred to as the Grand Dame of Mystery, employing Samson’s riddle in captivating novels like And Then There Were None and Murder on the Orient Express. At the core of each of her detective-style “whodunits” is a puzzle and logical reveal. Each story incorporates not only the age-old battle of good against evil, but records the steps taken to reveal each dastardly deed—and ensure that righteousness can prevail. Her novels provide an enduring path to intellectual challenge and puzzle-solving.

Bookshelf full of Agatha Christie mystery novels

Modern mystery writing vs traditional detective stories

Not your grandmother's mystery novel...

As the world becomes more complex, social mores shift from strict “golden rules” thinking to acting on what our own consciences dictate. Our reading habits reflect such intricacy. Mystery novels have evolved into tenser, more immersive experiences often ribboned with unreliable perceptions and ambiguous motives. Although traditional detective-style novels are still in high demand, now laced with modern twists, many readers prefer to delve into the more convoluted psychological aspects of this genre. Gone Girl, The Silent Patient, and Behind Closed Doors are among the best examples of stories that have flipped the metaphorical camera and brought it closer. Rather than just focusing on the wicked intentions of others, attention pivots, scrutinizing the deep flaws within ourselves.

How have mystery novels changed over time?

Here, a few examples of how the genre has shifted over the past century by contrasting Christie’s wholly satisfying cerebral novels with the riveting reads of today:

Narrative focus

Christie’s plot-driven tales place the puzzle at the center of the story.

Readers try to solve the who, why, and how of the story alongside the author. Psychological suspense novels are character-driven, delving into the inner state of the protagonist. Factors such as moral ambiguity and altered perception can erode the certainty of motives.

Person in a jumper reading a book at night

Point of view

The star of Christie’s novels is the investigator, or at least a clear-eyed observer, written in a detached third-person narration to guide readers through clues to an ingenious, logical conclusion.

Today’s suspense novels also have riveting endings but the path to reach them filters though often-unstable or clueless first-person or close third-person narration.

Tone

While Christie’s controlled, genteel observations and calculations focus on the intellectual challenges of solving a puzzle, the psychological thriller’s tone is much more intense.

The atmosphere is unsettling, claustrophobic, and can even be paranoid. Simultaneous probes of the mind as the actions occur produces dread, disorientation, and anxiety.

Pacing

Agatha Christie’s meticulous prose is methodical, walking readers through the clues in measured steps until enough evidence accrues to produce a single revelation.

Nowadays, twists and turns have a manic edge. Authors have multiple tricks up their metaphorical sleeves, varying tension by mixing sudden shocks with sustained suspense. A psychological thriller can start at a slow burn or explode from the first page.

Fragmented chronology and flashbacks often keep readers off balance—and on the edge of their seats.

Themes

Unwinding the knot of human motivation prevails in Christie’s books.

Themes of revenge, greed, and power-seeking prevail and by the story’s end, readers experience a sense of having solved a puzzle and restored social order.

Modern psychological suspense novels rarely wrap up so tidily. All the “feels” get in the way—memories, trauma, identity, perception versus reality, the fragility of the mind, and fraught relationships make starring appearances in these tales.

Writing trends in the mystery genre

More than anything, mystery writers are innovators, blending tried-and-true tropes with modern restyling.

Some of today’s most successful offerings within the mystery genre combine elements that would have been scoffed at not too long ago. Top authors of genre-bending blockbusters have combined traditional puzzle-solving stories with deep psychological profiling; police procedurals with cozy mysteries; high-octane thrillers with elements of horror; psychological suspense with paranormal elements—and more. The trend to incorporate the best of many motifs is expanding as readers long for new, interesting literary pairings. Anything goes!