The Game’s Afoot!

The mystery novel is a fascinating piece of writing art. Though I never decipher all the clues before Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot explain them, I enjoy the thrill of the chase and the eventual dénouement. As with all story types and conventions, the mystery novel rings with notes of reality and bears meaning in our daily lives. Taking them a step beyond reality, man-made mysteries also reveal to us something of God. Study and recreational reading in the mystery genre afford me an interesting view of Salvation History, which helps my book-loving mind to contemplate my life. However strange the connection seems between a mystery novel and the plans of God, the search for truth unites the two in an interesting way.

There are basic rules to writing a good mystery novel. In a murder mystery, the body must turn up, on page, early in the story followed by a train of clues. The important “W. Questions” – and the H. question too! – figure in the detective’s mind in part or full and must receive sufficient answer before the end. The highest point of action occurs at the arrest of the perpetrator and is often followed by the full explanation. In a well-written mystery, none of the information the reader receives in explanation should appear as a shock. As Dorothy L. Sayers put it, at the mystery’s conclusion we should be able to say “I can see now that from the beginning this man had it in him to commit murder, had I only the wits to interpret the indications furnished by the author.”

Using the lens of faith, our lives appear as mysteries of God’s authoring. In big life decisions such as vocation, spouse, career, and education, clues tend to point us in the right direction. It is normal to look back on vocation stories and see how hints of future life were already present in childhood games and thoughts. Is it not a clue when a young girl builds and manages a schoolhouse for her dolls that there may be some interest in teaching beyond the game? Or consider how a young boy may read a child’s version of the life of Saint Francis of Assisi and go on to become a Franciscan Friar. Clues are part of our lives; we only need the cleverness of Holmes to see them!

As with all art, the mystery novel is not confined to reflecting the human condition. A well-crafted novel should act as a reflection of ourselves and as a window into the Divine. What do we see beyond the mystery’s window? God’s character is so infinite that a mystery novel need not display only one aspect. However, my favourite and most inspiring aspect of the mystery novel is an image of Final Judgment.

When at last we see our lives and God’s plan laid out before us, with God himself as the detective who is explaining all, we must experience a similar moment of ‘ah-ha!’ as when the mystery novel is unraveled. Then, when faced with God’s loving and unfathomable wisdom, will the atheist see sense, the apostate his folly, and the saint the cause of her joy. Not only will the revelation concern ourselves, we will see everyone we love and every soul we touch twined together in a grand tapestry of previous mystery. God’s presence and work in every aspect of life will startle us with its simplicity and complexity, and we will have nothing to say but, “if I had known my God better, if I had a touch more of his wisdom, I should have known it all along!”

It is both a heavy and happy burden to a mystery novelist to know the strength that is in their genre. Certainly, let their work display artistic talent; let the characters leap off the page while the mystery baffles and confuses readers. Yet, there is also a delightful opportunity for the novelist to use his writing as a windowpane where the reader’s humanity is reflected, and God’s reality is glimpsed.

So, mystery novelists, your game is afoot! We, your readers, promise to give chase in the winding search for Truth.

Copyright 2022 – Maggie Rosario

Maggie Rosario

Maggie Rosario was homsechooled throughout both elementary and secondary school. She is currently a liberal arts student at Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College in Barry's Bay, Ontario, where she continues her pursuit of music, creative writing, and literature. She gladly takes any opportunity to attend college dances or hiking trips in free time.