Mystery

Mystery novels have been a staple among readers since the early days of Sherlock Holmes. In these books, some professional, typically a detective, solves a crime. The excitement is in the twists and turns on the path to “who done it.” The best mysteries are those where the ending can’t be figured out until the big reveal.

According to pulptastic: 

Mystery stories revolve around an unsolved crime or mysterious circumstance that the protagonist must resolve. A mystery is often centred around a mystery figure or criminal who steals or murders and must evade the authorities. The challenge for the protagonist of a mystery novel is to find out who committed the crime and why. Clues and puzzles are used to set the investigation in motion and the protagonist must piece together the evidence to solve the enigma.

Most mystery novels are built on a structure of clues and red herrings designed to keep readers guessing until the climax. This can be done through the use of interrogations, plot twists, and unexpected events. The climax of the story should reveal the identity of the culprit and the purpose of the crime.