The Difference Between Mystery and Suspense
Although mystery is an element found in every genre…what if there weren’t any secrets to uncover or bad guys to catch? Would you want to turn the pages and continue reading? Romance, romantic suspense, thrillers, historical and other genres all have some sort of element of mystery.
Mystery novels involve a puzzle—a game of whodunit. A crime usually happens and it’s up to the protagonist to uncover the truth.
In a suspense novel–a threat and imminent danger must be resolved not a puzzle being resolved.
Something is coming. Thunder. Footsteps. Bad guys. Run! Run! Run!
It’s the ticking bomb concept.
A suspense novel builds then ebbs creating an emotional rollercoaster and the author ensures it crashes at the right moment with a big bang.
The protagonist in a suspense novel is usually tossed into the role of the hero, and in most cases without preparation or the necessary skills. He or she would rather be working or at home with their family etc., but someone has made that impossible by putting the hero’s home or loved ones in danger.
In suspense novels, the stakes are much higher with the threat reaching an impossible level.
In my debut romantic suspense, REFLECTION (A Whitney Steel Novel), my heroine Whitney Steel is an investigative reporter determined to nail the “story of a lifetime” because her colleagues have always made their opinions clear: Between her father’s luster as a war correspondent and her ex-husband’s political connections she’s had a free ride to get where she is in her career.
But her journey to get the “big story” is not going to be easy as she battles billionaire, Biotech company owner, Nathan Shaw–who will do ANYTHING to keep his illegal human cloning project concealed from outsiders.
Reflection is a deeply emotional romantic suspense that starts bold and holds you captive to the very end.” —New York Times Bestseller, Dianna Love
“Action packed from page one…an impressively laid out passionate thrill ride!” —InD’Tale Magazine (http://www.indtale.com)
“I was looking forward to reading about Whitney and Blake. I anticipated a Booth and Bones relationship (from the Bones TV Series) and I wasn’t wrong…this book is definitely worth reading.” —Quality Reads UK Book Club
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/kim-cresswell
About the Author
Kim Cresswell resides in Ontario, Canada. Trained as a legal assistant, Kim has been a story-teller all her life but took many detours including; working in legal and adult education before returning to her first love, writing.
Her debut romantic suspense, REFLECTION, has won numerous awards: RomCon's 2014 Readers' Crown Finalist (Romantic Suspense), InD'tale Magazine 2014 Rone Award Finalist (Suspense/Thriller), UP Authors Fiction Challenge Winner (2013), Silicon Valley's Romance Writers of America (RWA) "Gotcha!" Romantic Suspense Winner (2004) and an Honourable Mention in Calgary's Romance Writers of America (RWA) The Writer's Voice Contest (2006).
LETHAL JOURNEY was a finalist in RomCon's 2014 Readers' Crown and From the Heart Romance Writers (FTHRW) Golden Gate Contest (2003).
Her action-packed suspense and thrillers have been highly praised by reviewers and readers. As one reviewer said, "Buckle up, Hang on tight!"
Kim recently entered the true crime writing arena. Real Life Evil - A True Crime Quickie (two short stories) was published in January 2014. You can read her latest true crime stories in Serial Killer Quarterly, a new quarterly e-magazine published by Grinning Man Press.
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Kim-Cresswell/e/B00B5LKAXA
Website: www.kimcresswell.ca
Twitter: @kimcresswell
I think I like suspense a little more. I don't like whodunits...at least not the cheesy classic kind! Reflection sounds like a great book.
ReplyDeleteIt depends on my mood--sometimes I enjoy a cheesy classic :)
DeleteCongrats, Kim, on your rerelease!
ReplyDeleteWoot woot!
DeleteI love romantic suspense! Gotta check this one out for sure.
ReplyDeleteFor sure! :)
DeleteLove this cover!! Plus the story sounds great! Will add this one. Congrats on your release, Kim. :)
ReplyDeleteBravo, Kim! I like the sound of the story.
ReplyDeleteI love a story that has a ticking time bomb at the heart of it!
ReplyDeleteMe too, Faith. :)
DeleteThanks for having me to Meradeth! :)
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure! Now if we could only figure out what's up with my dang comments!!
DeleteVery interesting post! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteKim...congrats on the re-launch of Reflection. It is very deserving of all the accolades that it has received!!! Keep up the great writing!!!
ReplyDeleteThat's very sweet of you, Les!
DeleteThank you, Les. :)
ReplyDeleteI love suspense, especially with romance in it. Looks like a great read. Congrats.
ReplyDeleteIt does look awesome, doesn't it? :)
DeleteSuspense is great and makes me bite my nails! Sometimes I have to put a suspense novel down and pick it up again later because I get so on edge. :) This sounds like a great book. Best of luck to Kim! :)
ReplyDeleteI've done this too! It gets totally overwhelming sometimes :)
DeleteHi everyone. I tried posting responses yesterday and blogger was being a pain in the butt. lol Thank you so much for all your kind words. I'm glad you enjoyed the post:) The suspense genre has my baby ever since I was a teenager and read Master of the Game by Sidney Sheldon. As they say...write what you like to read. ;)
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Kim, Reflection sounds great!
ReplyDeleteTotally agree!! :)
Delete