Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Mystery is a genre of literature that revolves around solving puzzles or uncovering secrets. It typically involves suspenseful elements such as crime, detective work, and hidden motives.
Related terms
Detective Fiction: Detective fiction refers specifically to stories that focus on crime-solving protagonists who use their deductive skills to solve mysteries.
Whodunit: Whodunit is another term for mystery stories where the main question revolves around identifying the culprit responsible for the crime.