Are Mystery Novels Doomed to be Dull?

B is for Burglar (Kinsey Millhone, #2)
by

Sue Grafton

 
Are murder mysteries doomed to be boring? "I set out to read [a mystery novel] in the hope of tasting some novel excitement," wrote Edmund Wilson in a classic attack on the mystery genre, "and I declare it seems to me one of the dullest books I have ever encountered in any field."

Intriguingly, Sue Grafton actually confirms Wilson's indictment, in part: the mystery novel has great potential to become dull and boring. Why? Because, as detective Kinsey Millhone herself explains, most detective-investigations are tedious affairs:

Most of my investigations proceed just like this. Endless notes, endless sources checked and rechecked, pursuing leads that sometimes go no place...plodding along methodically ... facts accumulated painstakingly. (page 33)

So a mystery writer needs to add some spice to the "ploddingly painstaking" process of detection. What is Grafton's "secret spice" to prevent the reader's eyes from glazing over and attention to wander? Several elements come to light:

Dollops of Psychology: "Insecure people have a special sensitivity for anything that finally confirms their own low opinion of themselves" (page 31; see also pages 60, 102, 106, 184, 187 and 198)

Sparkling Similes"I could feel my smile begin to set like a pan of fudge" (page 81; see also pages 71, 80, 89, 97, 101, 131, 140, 160-161, 168, 182)

A Sense of Humor: "California has over three thousand homicide victims annually, and of those, fully two-thirds are slain by friends, acquaintances, or relatives, which makes you wonder if you might be better off as a friendless orphan in this state" (page 113; see also the similes above and pages 66, 168 and 185)

Sharp Word Choice: "Rosie appeared again, simpering coquettishly" (page 85; see also pages 104, 114, 164 and 202)

Intriguing Displays of Expertise: Kinsey Millhone has some intriguing talents and interests, including: electricity (page 64), lock-picking (page 115), firearms (page 140), jogging (page 150), and even the anatomy of a window (page 206)

All in all, I found Grafton's spices effective--after all, I actually finished the book! :) Kinsey Millhone is indeed and entertaining--even sexy--woman to watch in action. Other characters encountered in the book are also studded with amusing eccentricities. And Grafton's prose is polished--and, at times, quite evocative.

I think I'll try out another Sue Grafton novel--or at least one of her short stories. (As I've since learned from her Kinsey and Me, Grafton's quite an intriguing person, herself.)