What makes a suspense novel good? Is it the characters, some aspect that portrays them as brave, or is it their witty sardonic commentary; or is it both? Maybe the outline or plot carries most of the weight. Perhaps drafting an intellectual thriller is less about the emotion, and more about the logic that drives the process. Whatever it is, or isn't; I think most would agree that a thrilling read is much like opening a present. Overwhelmingly, people like the surprise because knowing what the gift is beforehand becomes a joke. Pretending that you didn't know ends up looking like an anticlimactic smile, indistinguishable from a letdown. With an explanation like that, I guess one could rightly assume that I'm a big fan of the guessing game. Tell me just enough, giving me tiny hints because the fun in reading a suspense or mystery book, is when the writer gives me the chance to pretend, becoming the sleuth. With no short supply of mystery writers, at any given time there's a murderer on the loose. Some crude brainiac believing themselves wiser than the rest of the world. Not to worry; in the end, these culprits tend to get their comeuppance. If there isn't a drag 'em out shoot out--sniper style weapons, near misses, and thankful investigators, swearing their praises all due to target practice. Whatever the outcome, if weapons aren't in the mix the writer may have some other punishment in mind. Like sticking them under the prison, instead of inside of the prison walls.
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