How to Write a Damn Good Mystery: A Practical Step-by-Step Guide from Inspiration to Finished Manuscript

This is a good basic guide to writing a mystery from inspiration to book signings. The instructional side of things is enlivened by showing a mystery novel in the making--"Murder in Montana"--which puts an interesting spin on the process. Frey has a nice, easy style and uses humor to good effect. For the student/writer of mystery fiction, I would also recommend How to Write a Mystery by Larry Beinhart.

James N. Frey's follow up to the award winning HOW TO WRITE A DAMN GOOD NOVEL. It has the same humorous style that is long on sound character development and the interaction of all characters within the novel. He challenges you not to write an ordinary story that will make it to a publisher, but to pen a "Damn good, mystery." This is so important today as mysteries become harder to sell to an agent or to attract a publisher.
That is the line in the trade, but reading the top ten NYT yesterday I did notice that seven were mysteries/thrillers from the big names.
It's all here from plot to character to climax to closure. A good title to use as a start if you are unfamiliar with the style.
Writing as a Small BusinessSins of the Fathers: A Brewster County NovelUnder the Liberty OakGuns Across the Rio: A Texas Ranger in Old MexicoNatchez Above The River: A Family's Survival In The Civil War

As a self-confessed collector of books on writing, I found this one of the best of a very few such books that I have found merit the title of "most helpful and clear" how-to volumes. Frey is blunt, sometimes funny, always informative, and, for anyone thinking of writing just about any kind of novel, his book is a must. His writer's voice feels as if he is sitting across the table from you at your favorite coffee shop, telling you all his secrets. It's a great read. Even if you don't intend to write a mystery, per se, you will learn valuable lessons about the process of engaging, and sustaining, your reader's interest from cover to cover by following Frey's advice. On the whole, I found this even more helpful than his "How to Write a Damned Good Novel." If you know someone who is writing a novel, or trying to, this would be a good gift book for him or her to add to a writer's library. His How-To books are terrific, in my not so humble opinion!How to Write a Damn Good Novel, II: Advanced Techniques For Dramatic Storytelling

For any avid mystery reader and frustrated mystery writer like me, this book is a treat. It analyzes the structure and content of mysteries in an entertaining and informative manner. The author teaches writing courses and knows how to explain his ideas clearly and simply. It is easy to imagine him performing in front of his students, mixing humor with sound advice. The only doubt I have in recommending this book is that after reading it, a mystery reader will always be aware of how the author of the mystery uses the formulas detailed in the book and this might prove distracting. Kind of like finding out how a magic trick is accomplished, thus losing the magic and being left with only the trick. Certainly for an aspiring mystery writer the book is perfect.

It's too bad Frey wastes all of his bluster and energy on this stuff instead of writing real books.