There are multiple subgenres of mysteries, such as police procedurals, private investigator mysteries, and legal mysteries. I, however, write “amateur sleuth” on the “cozy adjacent” spectrum, emphasizing community and relationships over violence.

The most famous amateur sleuth is Miss Marple, created by Dame Agatha Christie. Miss Marple is believable because she isn’t out to one-up the police. Her gift is observation and understanding people, not superior detective skills.

Various Miss Marples

But that brings us to the biggest challenge with writing an amateur sleuth. How does the writer answer this simple question:

Why isn’t the police handling this?

Often it is because the amateur sleuth knows the victim or is accused themselves and works to clear their name or the name of a close friend or relative, but there are also other writing challenges such as:

1. Access to Information
A police detective can pull records, officially interview suspects, and examine evidence.

An amateur sleuth can’t.

The writer has to create plausible reasons for the amateur to learn legal and investigatory information. In my series, Raven Ouelette is the main protagonist and is married to the county sheriff, which helps with some information. I also give points of view to one of the deputies and to Raven’s father, a retired police officer. The reader can learn clues and information in a more logical way and without Raven having to be everywhere.

2. Avoiding Unrealistic Behavior
Many amateur sleuths should realistically be told, “Stay out of this.” Raven is definitely told by her husband to stay out of it, but if she listened, I couldn’t have a book.

3. Maintaining Stakes
Professional detectives investigate because it’s their job.

Amateurs need personal stakes:
–A friend is accused.
–A family member is missing.
–Their reputation is on the line.
–The crime threatens their community.

Miss Marple’s motives are rarely personal, however. She comes from a place of justice, a desire to protect her community, and a nosiness, I mean, an intellectual curiosity.

4. Balancing Competence
If the sleuth is too smart, readers will wonder why they aren’t a full-time detective.
If the sleuth is too clueless, readers lose confidence in the story or become bored.

5. Small-Town Problems
My series takes place in Midcoast Maine and is set primarily within a three- to four-town community. Everyone knows everyone else. New people and visitors are noticed. This raises the questions:

—How can the killer operate unnoticed?
—How many murders can one town or area realistically have?
—If it revolves around a secret, why doesn’t everyone already know it?

6. Keeping the Police Credible
Police shouldn’t be portrayed as idiots solely to make the amateur shine. The strongest mysteries usually feature competent law enforcement who simply lack one crucial piece of information that the amateur possesses.

In my series, the characters often know the suspects personally. The amateur sleuth investigation isn’t often about solving a puzzle involving strangers—it’s about discovering that your neighbor, fishing buddy, former teacher, or town selectman may be hiding something. That emotional conflict might even be more compelling than the mystery itself.

If I’m honest with myself, I believe the real reason I write amateur sleuth is that I have always wanted to be one. The first Nancy Drew book I read was The Hidden Staircase. I went around knocking on walls at my parents’ house, only to learn my father had built it. He swore he hadn’t hidden anything. That was a disappointing day.

Until there comes a time when I can actually investigate for real, I’ll live vicariously through my characters.

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Allison Keeton writes the Midcoast Maine Mystery series. Arctic Green, Book Two, is now available. She can be reached at http://www.akeetonbooks.com. Check out the event tab on her website to see where she’ll show up next!