Hailey Carrell 1

1. Narrative/rationale (3-4 pages; 4-6 sources).

Imagine you are on an island, a boat, or a train with several strangers. Suddenly, a storm

hits. You are stranded with these people you know nothing about. Then, a terrible accident

befalls one of your companions. But was it really an accident? You are not so sure when another

suffers a strange accident, too. You don’t know who did it, but you do know that you are trapped

here with them. If you find yourself in this situation, you are in a closed circle mystery.

Saricks (2009) defines mystery as being “constructed around a puzzle,” with the author

giving “clues to the solution but attempt[ing] to obscure some information so that the mystery

cannot be solved too easily” (196). One of the draws of this genre is that the readers “along with

the detective, are drawn into the puzzle in an attempt to solve” the crime (196). Readers follow

along as a detective, private investigator, or any average Joe attempts to solve a crime, usually a

murder. One subgenre of mystery is the “locked room” mystery. This is when a seemingly

impossible crime happens, often a murder in a supposedly locked room. Another similar branch

of mystery is the “closed circle” mystery, when there is a set group of suspects, often stranded or

cut off from the outside world.

While it is known that reading is very beneficial, mysteries have their own unique set of

assets. One study shows that in addition to increasing literacy, reading mysteries also

“demonstrates the power of critical thinking skills and promotes problem-solving” in kids and

teens (Rakuten OverDrive 2016). In addition, this genre pulls readers into the story and “supports

comprehension” (Rakuten OverDrive 2016). While this study may be focused on youth, these

benefits are also applicable to adults. Mysteries force the reader to think critically about what

they are reading, as they try to piece the puzzle together along with the characters. This is a vital

skill at any age.

 Hailey Carrell 2

In addition to strengthening critical thinking skills, reading mysteries can also provide

support in the field of psychology. Kellogg (1983) discusses the use of mysteries in studying

psychology. Students can read mysteries and relate what they have learned in their courses to the

characters in the story (46). Detective novels, in particular, aid in psychological studies. The

students are able to observe as the detective solves the case. These novels often contain themes

from psychology classes, such as “motivation, emotion, problem-solving, personality, mental

disorder, and social behavior” (46). Reading these novels, psychology students can examine the

characters and apply the concepts of psychology to their analysis. However, this is not only

beneficial to psychology students, but all human beings. Reading mysteries and applying this

real-world knowledge allows us to better understand other people and their actions.

There have been many studies looking into the appeal of mysteries. Knobloch-

Westerwick and Keplinger (2006) lay out three models examining the potential appeal and

enjoyment of these stories. The uncertainty model applies when the reader enjoys the uncertainty

of the guilty party; “The higher the uncertainty…the greater the enjoyment” (196-197). The

surprise model posits that the surprise of the final reveal leads to the enjoyment of the story

(197). The final model, confirmation, assumes that enjoyment occurs when the reader’s

suspicions are confirmed at the end of the story (197). These three models show that while

mysteries are a generally enjoyed genre, the reason for enjoyment varies among readers. Some

readers enjoy the shock of final reveals while some are more satisfied when they can solve the

puzzle themselves.

To appease these different levels of enjoyment, many authors make it a point to include

all the clues needed to solve the mystery into their story. They provide subtle, and some not so

subtle, clues to the reader. This gives the reader the ability to solve the puzzle, if that is what they
 Hailey Carrell 3

want to do. Some readers prefer to be surprised, then find these clues upon rereading. Kellogg

(1983) provides an excellent example, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie. While

the character of Hercule Poirot is a brilliant detective, seemingly able to solve impossible cases,

that is not necessarily the case. In fact, in this book, “Poirot is not given any more information

than the reader; the crime is solved by how he uses this information” (47). This gives the reader a

chance to solve the case alongside Poirot, if they are reading closely. This also brings in the

critical thinking skills mentioned earlier. However, if a reader simply wants to enjoy a mystery

and be surprised, that is still a possibility. One of the great aspects of the mystery genre is that

readers can examine the puzzle as much or as little as they like. It is a customizable experience.

Knobloch-Westerwick and Keplinger (2006) cite another study that examined other

factors that affect readers’ enjoyment of mysteries. This study states that the cast of characters

plays a large role, stating “that enjoyment increases with the number of suspects presented in a

mystery, although the presentation of too many suspects would lead to confusion, which would

hinder the enjoyment of the reception” (197). This theory can be applied almost directly to the

genre of closed-circle mysteries. For example, in Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None,

we are introduced to ten characters, and that is it. As the characters become stranded and then

killed off, the reader knows that it is one of these characters. While such a large cast of

characters may seem overwhelming, these are the only characters for the whole book. In

addition, the cast is slowly taken down, one by one. This keeps the cast from getting to be too

much, while ensuring that the reader is focused on these characters.

Reading is an important part of intellectual development and maintenance. In addition,

mysteries encourage critical thinking, reading comprehension, and problem-solving. Readers

may enjoy reading mysteries and attempting to solve them, or they may enjoy the jaw-dropping
 Hailey Carrell 4

reveal of the culprit. They allow us to peek into the mind of a detective or a criminal. We can

study the characters and their motivations. Or, we can simply read a fun story. No matter the

reasoning, mysteries are a popular genre across a wide audience. Whether reading to gain a

deeper understanding into the human psyche or to escape reality for a while, the benefits are still

there. Mystery is a popular genre, but an important one, too.

 Hailey Carrell 5

References

Kellogg, Richard L. (1983). The Psychology of Agatha Christie. Teaching of Psychology, 10 (1):

46-47.

Knoblich-Westerwick, Silvia and Caterina Keplinger. (2006). Mystery Appeal: Effects of

Uncertainty and Resolution on the Enjoyment of Mystery. Media Psychology, 8: 193-

212.

Saricks, Joyce G. (2009). Mysteries. The Readers’ Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction (196-228).

Chicago, IL: American Library Association.

Surprising benefits of reading J/YA mystery. (2016). Retrieved from

https://company.overdrive.com/2016/10/28/suprising-benefits-kids-read-mystery/
 Hailey Carrell 6

2. Selection Process

I chose my theme based on one of my favorite tropes: people becoming stranded and

being killed off, one at a time. Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None is one of my

favorite books. I can still remember the first time I read it. It blew me away! Ever since, I have

found myself drawn to books and other media that follow such a premise. Because of my love

for this theme, I decided that I would use it for my booktalk.

To select my five books, I mostly used NoveList. I chose this resource because it

provides mostly accurate read-alikes, as well as reasoning for the picks. I began by searching for

And Then There Were None. From there, I looked at the suggested read-alikes to see if any of

those fit. This is where I found An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena and They All Fall Down by

Rachel Howzell Hall. I also used the “Search for More” function, selecting more with the theme

of “Locked room mysteries.” While I found some books I considered using, I decided they didn’t

quite fit with what I wanted. My next strategy was to search the books I knew I wanted to use

and check their read-alikes. However, I once again did not feel like these books matched my

theme.

From here, I looked back at the books I had chosen thus far. I really wanted to use They

All Fall Down, but it was a retelling of And Then There Were None, and I didn’t want to use

books that were too similar. I decided that instead of using And Then There Were None, I would

use Murder on the Orient Express instead. This would give me some variation, while still

including an Agatha Christie novel. I also remembered about Ruth Ware’s The Woman in Cabin

10, which fit my theme, but offered a different setting.

I just needed one more book, but I could not decide. None of the other books I found on

NoveList fit quite right. After searching for “Locked room mysteries” on Google, I discovered
 Hailey Carrell 7

that what I was really looking for fit under the branch of “closed circle mysteries.” These are

books with a group of characters isolated from the outside world. When a murder occurs, the

reader knows that it is one of these few characters. I could not find a search for this category in

NoveList, so I put it in Google instead. I found a list on Goodreads of books readers have tagged

as “closed circle mysteries,” which is where I found Under a Dark Sky by Lori Rader-Day. With

this selection, my five books were complete!

 Hailey Carrell 8

3. Annotations:
1. Author: Agatha Christie
Title: Murder on the Orient Express
Publication Date: January 1983; Originally published January 1934.
Number of Pages: 251
Part of a Series: Yes; Book 10 of the Hercule Poirot series
Subject Heading(s): From NoveList- Belgians in England; Crimes aboard trains; Murder
investigation; Orient Express (train); Poirot, Hercule (Fictitious character); Private investigators;
Railroad travel; Rich men; Senior men
Geographical Setting/
Time Period: On a train from Istanbul to London/1934.
Main Character(s): Hercule Poirot is a legendary and highly sought-after detective, with an
uncanny ability to solve even those that are seemingly unsolvable.
Also featured is a large cast of international passengers, all hiding something. These passengers
include a governess, a colonel, a secretary, a Russian princess, a Hungarian Count and Countess,
and more.
Plot Summary: When Hercule Poirot ends up on a train to London, he expects a relaxing ride.
But when the train is stopped by a snowstorm and one of the passengers is murdered, he must get
to work to solve the case. With a large cast of shady international suspects, Poirot must race
against the clock before the train reaches its destination.
Appeal: Pacing- Slow-building; engrossing
Characterization- Diverse; unreliable (passengers)
Storyline- Intricately plotted; layered; filled with twists
Frame- Setting is vital; claustrophobic; tense
Tone- Dark, suspenseful
Brief quote: Page 34: “What has occurred?”
“You may well ask that. First this now—this stoppage. And now—”
“And now what?”
“And now a passenger lies dead in his berth—stabbed.”
Prizes or Awards: N/A
Similar Works: From NoveList-
1222 by Anne Holt- Both feature prolific detectives trying to solve a murder on a train.
Night Over Water by Ken Follett- Thrillers about travelers stuck together, each hiding a secret.
 Hailey Carrell 9

2. Author: Lori Rader-Day

Title: Under a Dark Sky
Publication Date: August 2018
Number of Pages: 390
Part of a Series: No.
Subject Heading(s): From Hennepin County Public Library- Widows—Fiction; Murder—
Fiction; Fear—Fiction; Psychological Fiction; Thrillers (Fiction)
Geographical Setting/
Time Period: Chicago; Michigan/Present Day.
Main Character(s): Eden Wallace’s life has been turned upside down. Ever since the death of
her husband, she has been unable to move on. Suffering from night terrors and debilitating
phobias, she hopes to enjoy relaxing retreat at a remote resort.
Other characters include a group of college kids, ready to party, and ready to drag Eden into their
drama.
Plot Summary: Grieving widow Eden finds a reservation her late husband made to a remote
resort. To her shock, a group of college kids is also staying at the resort, and she soon finds
herself sucked into their drama. Things take yet another turn for the worst when one of them is
murdered, and everyone in the house is a suspect- including Eden.
Appeal: Pacing- Slow-building
Characterization- unreliable; diverse
Storyline- plot-centered; layered
Frame- Dark
Tone- Dramatic; suspenseful
Brief quote: Page 71 “The shadows, just out of my sight, crept towards me, on the move. When
I looked directly into the corners, everything was what it should be, but when I turned my
head—
And then came the scream”
Prizes or Awards: N/A
Similar Works: From NoveList through the Pioneer Library System Catalog
Baggage by S.G. Redling- psychological suspense featuring grieving widows
Breathless by J.P. Smith- psychological suspense featuring grieving widows
 Hailey Carrell 10

3. Author: Ruth Ware

Title: The Woman in Cabin 10
Publication Date: July 2016
Number of Pages: 340 pages
Part of a Series: No
Subject Heading(s): From NoveList- Journalists; Missing persons; Murder; Murder witnesses;
Pleasure cruises
Geographical Setting/
Time Period: North Sea/Present Day
Main Character(s): Lo Blaylock is journalist trying to prove herself. The night before she is to
leave for her assignment on a new cruise, her apartment is broken into, leaving her shaken and
paranoid.
Judah is Lo’s well-meaning boyfriend who is ready to move forward in their relationship, which
makes Lo nervous.
Ben is a fellow journalist and former flame of Lo’s, who is also covering the cruise.
Plot Summary: Lo Blaylock gets the chance of a lifetime to report on a new luxury cruise. What
is supposed to be a relaxing getaway soon turns into a nightmare when Lo witnesses someone
being thrown overboard. Lo knows what she saw and is determined to find out what happened
and what the passengers of the cruise are hiding.
Appeal: Pacing- Slow-building; engrossing
Characterization- Unreliable
Storyline- Intricate; plot twists
Frame- Claustrophobic
Tone- Dark; tense
Brief quote: Page 85 “I held my breath, straining to hear.
And there was a splash.
Not a small splash.
No, this was a big splash.
The kind of splash made by a body hitting water.”
Prizes or Awards: Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Mystery & Thriller 2016;
LibraryReads Favorites 2016.
Similar Works: From NoveList
The American Girl by Kate Horsley- Both are gripping psychological thrillers featuring female
journalists investigating a murder.
The Blue by Lucy Clarke- Both are stories about women who go on cruises to escape, but things
go awry when a passenger is murdered.
 Hailey Carrell 11

4. Author: Rachel Howzell Hall

Title: They All Fall Down
Publication Date: April 2019
Number of Pages: 320 pages
Part of a Series: No.
Subject Heading(s): From NoveList- African American women; Deception; Defense attorneys;
Islands; Mansions; Murder; Murder investigation; Secrets; Strangers; Women amateur
detectives.
Geographical Setting/
Time Period: Los Angeles; Mexico/Present Day
Main Character(s): Miriam Macy’s life is unraveling. Her husband left her, she is having panic
attacks, and she just lost her job. When she is invited to be on a reality TV show, she jumps at
the chance to stay at a beautiful and exotic estate. Little does she know, she will soon be thrown
into a murder mystery that she must solve, or she might be next.
Miriam’s costars include a diverse and shady cast of characters, such as a drug-addicted chef and
an anxious nurse.
Plot Summary: Miriam Macy receives a mysterious invitation to join the cast of a reality TV
show being filmed on a luxurious private island. Miriam soon joins a cast of interesting
characters, all hiding something. However, after their arrival, the cast begins to suffer from
horrific accidents…but are they really accidents?
Appeal: Pacing- Slow-building; gripping
Characterization- Unreliable; diverse
Storyline- Plot-driven; layered; twisty
Frame- Exotic
Tone- Dark; dramatic
Brief quote: “A magnificent joke has been played on you.” To Desi, he said, “Your friend Alex
did not invite you to stay on Mictlan Island.” To Frank: “There is no business summit this
weekend.” To me: “This isn’t a reality show competition and there is no million-dollar prize. All
of what you’ve heard has been a lie.”
Prizes or Awards: N/A
Similar Works: From NoveList
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie- Both are suspenseful tales of strangers gathered
on an island, only to be killed one by one.
Endgame by Jeffrey Round- Both are mysteries of being stranded on an island with a killer.
 Hailey Carrell 12

5. Author: Shari Lapena

Title: An Unwanted Guest
Publication Date: August 2018
Number of Pages: 290 pages
Part of a Series: No.
Subject Heading(s): From NoveList- Amateur detectives; Blizzards; Inns; Murder; Murder
investigation; Strangers; Wilderness areas.
Geographical Setting/
Time Period: Catskills Mountains, New York; Present Day.
Main Character(s): Gwen and Riley are old friends from journalism school, whose careers took
them separate ways. Now Gwen is hoping to help Riley, who is suffering from PTSD, while
hiding secrets of her own.
David is a top criminal attorney, hoping for a relaxing weekend away.
Other characters include a beautiful woman and her wealthy heir fiancé, an unhappily married
couple, and an aspiring writer.
Plot Summary: A group of strangers are gathered at a beautiful, secluded resort, hoping for a
weekend of skiing and relaxation. But then a storm hits, and they are cut off from the outside
world. Suddenly, the guests begin to die in what appear to be horrible accidents…but are they
really accidents? Or is one of them a killer?
Appeal: Pacing- Slow-building; engrossing
Characterization- Unlikable; unreliable
Storyline- Plot-centered; twists
Frame- Dark; secluded; isolating
Tone-Menacing; intense
Brief quote: Page 63 “The power lines must be down because of the storm. It’s hazardous out
there. Nobody’s going anywhere.” He adds, his voice taking on an uncertain note, “It’s probably
going to be a while before the police can get here.”
Prizes or Awards: N/A
Similar Works: From NoveList-
The Lazarus Hotel by Jo Bannister- both feature a group trapped while a killer hunts them one by
one.
The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley-Intricately plotted and suspenseful novels about characters
stranded by a snowstorm with a murderer.
 Hailey Carrell 13

4. Bookmark

The Killer
You Know
These strangers are
stranded...and one is a
killer
1. Murder on the Orient
Express by Agatha Christie
Hercule Poirot is on the case
when a passenger on his train is
murdered.
2. Under a Dark Sky
by Lori Rader-Day
A grieving widow is looking for a
weekend away, but is interrupted
by a group of young adults and
their drama...and a murder.
3. The Woman in Cabin 10
by Ruth Ware
A journalist reporting on a
maiden cruise is shocked when
she sees someone thrown
overboard, but no one seems to
care.
4. They All Fall Down
by Rachel Howzell Hall
A woman is invited to take part in
a reality show, but soon
discovers that all is not as it
seems.
5. An Unwanted Guest
by Shari Lapena
Hoping for a relaxing weekend at
a resort, a group of strangers
are shocked when one turns up
dead.