Why Believable Suspects Matter

Suspects are the lifeblood of any mystery. They serve as red herrings, complicate the plot, and keep readers second-guessing. A well-crafted suspect has:

1. Depth – They’re more than just placeholders; they have motives, backstories, and personalities.

2. Relatability – Even if readers don’t agree with their actions, they should understand their reasoning.

3. Ambiguity – They walk the fine line between innocence and guilt, sowing doubt in readers’ minds.

Take The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, for example. The suspects in the murder of Harriet Vanger are members of her powerful, dysfunctional family. Each has skeletons in their closet, creating a tangled web that protagonist Mikael Blomkvist must navigate.

Start with a Solid Motive

Every suspect needs a reason to be implicated in the crime. A motive doesn’t just make them plausible as the culprit—it also enriches the story. Consider the classic trio of motives: money, love, and revenge. While these are timeless, adding nuance can make them feel fresh.

Example: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

In Big Little Lies, Moriarty presents a murder within a tight-knit community. The suspects all have compelling motives, ranging from jealousy to secrets worth protecting. The genius lies in layering their motives with personal struggles, making each suspect feel deeply human.

Build Layered Backstories

A suspect’s backstory can make or break their believability. Use their past to explain their current behavior, motives, and relationship with the victim. This not only makes them more credible but also offers opportunities to mislead readers.

Example: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Nick and Amy Dunne are both suspects in Amy’s disappearance, and their backstories play a critical role in shaping reader perception. Flynn uses Amy’s history of manipulative behavior and Nick’s secretive nature to keep readers oscillating between sympathy and suspicion.

Add Shades of Grey

No one is entirely good or evil. Adding moral ambiguity to your suspects blurs the line between right and wrong, making the mystery all the more engaging.

Example: Knives Out (Rian Johnson’s Film)

In this modern whodunit, nearly every member of the Thrombey family has a reason to kill patriarch Harlan Thrombey. Yet, their actions stem from greed, desperation, or love, adding depth to their characters. Even when their flaws are on full display, viewers can’t help but empathize with them to some degree.

Create Interpersonal Conflicts

Interpersonal dynamics among suspects add complexity to the story. They allow for secrets, alliances, and betrayals that deepen the mystery.

Example: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

In this timeless classic, Christie assembles a group of strangers on a secluded island. Tensions between characters, coupled with their hidden pasts, create a sense of paranoia. Each suspect’s interactions with others become clues—or red herrings—for the reader to dissect.

Drop Hints and Red Herrings

To keep readers hooked, sprinkle clues and distractions throughout the narrative. A good red herring draws suspicion away from the real culprit without feeling like a cheap trick.

Example: The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

Michaelides masterfully misdirects readers through Alicia Berenson’s diary entries and the perspectives of other characters. By planting subtle hints and crafting red herrings, he leads readers down the wrong path before revealing a shocking twist.

Incorporate the Unexpected

Breaking stereotypes and subverting expectations keeps your suspects fresh. Avoid clichés like the brooding loner or the wealthy tycoon without a heart. Instead, challenge readers’ assumptions.

Example: The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

Turton turns the whodunit genre on its head with a time-loop structure and an ever-shifting protagonist. Each suspect in Evelyn Hardcastle’s murder is multi-dimensional, and their motives evolve as the protagonist uncovers more about them.

The Power of Dialogue

Dialogue is a powerful tool for shaping suspicion. A suspect’s choice of words, tone, and timing can reveal as much as their actions. Use dialogue to hint at motives, expose inconsistencies, or add tension.

Example: Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

Flynn’s knack for razor-sharp dialogue is evident in Sharp Objects. Camille Preaker’s interactions with the residents of Wind Gap peel back layers of deceit, jealousy, and pain. Each conversation feels charged with subtext, inviting readers to parse every word for clues.

How to Balance Your Cast of Suspects

A strong mystery often includes multiple suspects, but too many can overwhelm readers. Strive for a balance where each suspect feels distinct and necessary to the plot.

Practical Tips:

1. Limit the Cast – Aim for 3–5 suspects to maintain focus.

2. Diversify Motives – Ensure each suspect has a unique reason for being implicated.

3. Give Equal Attention – Avoid overdeveloping one suspect at the expense of others, as this can inadvertently reveal the true culprit.

Keep the Reader Engaged

The ultimate goal is to keep readers turning pages. Use cliffhangers, twists, and revelations to sustain suspense. Most importantly, ensure the resolution feels earned and ties together the story’s loose ends.

Example: The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino

Higashino builds an intricate puzzle in this novel, where every suspect and clue plays a pivotal role. The final reveal is both shocking and deeply satisfying, thanks to careful plotting and character development.

Final Thoughts

Crafting complex and believable suspects is both an art and a science. By layering motives, backstories, and interpersonal dynamics, you can create characters that linger in readers’ minds long after they’ve finished your book. Whether you’re inspired by the suspense of Gone Girl or the ensemble intrigue of Knives Out, the key is to embrace nuance and ambiguity.

So, grab your pen—or keyboard—and start building a cast of suspects that will leave your readers guessing, gasping, and coming back for more. Happy writing!

The Works of Edgar Allan Poe