SKU: 92892798280

How to Write a Damn Good Mystery: A Practical Step-By-Step Guide from Inspiration to Finished Manuscript

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How to Write a Damn Good Mystery: A Practical Step-By-Step Guide from Inspiration to Finished ManuscriptEdgar award nominee James N. Frey, author of the internationally best selling books on the craft of writing, How to Write a Damn Good Novel, How to Write a Damn Good Novel II: Advanced Techniques, and The Key: How to Write Damn Good Fiction Using the Power of Myth, has now written what is certain to become the standard "how to" book for mystery writing, How to Write a Damn Good Mystery. Frey urges writers to aim high not to try to write a good enough

Edgar award nominee James N. Frey, author of the internationally best-selling books on the craft of writing, How to Write a Damn Good Novel, How to Write a Damn Good Novel II: Advanced Techniques, and The Key: How to Write Damn Good Fiction Using the Power of Myth, has now written what is certain to become the standard "how to" book for mystery writing, How to Write a Damn Good Mystery.

Frey urges writers to aim high-not to try to write a good-enough-to-get-published mystery, but a damn good mystery. A damn good mystery is first a dramatic novel, Frey insists-a dramatic novel with living, breathing characters-and he shows his readers how to create a living, breathing, believable character who will be clever and resourceful, willful and resolute, and will be what Frey calls "the author of the plot behind the plot."

Frey then shows, in his well-known, entertaining, and accessible (and often humorous) style, how the characters-the entire ensemble, including the murderer, the detective, the authorities, the victims, the suspects, the witnesses and the bystanders-create a complete and coherent world.

Exploring both the on-stage action and the behind-the-scenes intrigue, Frey shows prospective writers how to build a fleshed-out, believable, and logical world. He shows them exactly which parts of that world show up in the pages of a damn good mystery-and which parts are held back just long enough to keep the reader guessing.

This is an indispensable step-by-step guide for anyone who's ever dreamed of writing a damn good mystery.



Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 02/12/2004
ISBN: 9780312304461
Pages: 271
Weight: 1.10lbs
Size: 8.60h x 5.80w x 1.20d

Review Citations: Booklist 01/01/2004 pg. 809
PW Notes and Reprints 01/26/2004 pg. 235
Library Journal 02/01/2004 pg. 103
Publishers Weekly 01/26/2004
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SKU: 92892798280

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Dorothy Gilbertson
Dallas, US
★★★★★ 3
Nice but dissapointing
So it sometimes stays cool but if it’s under a blanket and you have your body on it at all it will get warm but the spots you don’t use will get cool sometimes. I am very disappointed in the material though because it’s like my dry skin scratched the pillow case all over which makes me question it and I don’t think I would buy again.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2025
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Shelby
Port Orchard, US
★★★★★ 5
Cool, Comfortable, and Worth Every Penny!
Color: Light Gray, Size: Standard
I’m honestly impressed with these pillowcases! From the first night, I could feel the difference—they stay noticeably cool, which is perfect if you tend to sleep hot like I do. The fabric feels silky smooth against the skin without being slippery, and it’s really gentle on both my hair and face. I’ve also noticed I wake up less sweaty and more comfortable overall. They fit my pillows well and don’t slip off during the night, which is a big plus. After washing, they held up great—no fading, shrinking, or loss of softness. If you’re looking for pillowcases that actually help keep you cool and comfortable through the night, these are definitely worth it. I’ll be buying more!
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Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2026
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Sarah Benjamin
Waukegan, US
★★★★★ 5
Extremely cold, silky, gentle on hair
Color: White, Size: Queen
This was so cold when I removed it from the package that at first I thought it would be too cold. It was as if it had been in a freezer. I really like how silky it is on my face. (I can't stand a rough feeling pillowcase.) It is also gentle on my curly hair. The pillowcase can warm up from being slept on, but a shift of just a few inches gets back to wonderful cold. I highly recommend this as an extremely cool, silky smooth fabric. These are much colder than my very expensive miracle sheets.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2026
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Amazon Customer
Birmingham, US
★★★★★ 5
Freaking Amazing 🤩
I never write reviews but these pillow cases absolutely deserve one!!! These are absolutely amazing! So soft and cool! I sweat so bad every night!! I wake up and my hair, shirt and pillow are drenched!!! I slipped these bad boys on as soon as they came in, and let me tell you! They were cold to the touch, I woke up this morning and I wasn’t sweating! I thought $20 something dollars was a little expensive for 2 pillow cases but was totally worth it! We love love love them!🩷🩷🩷Hubby approved😉
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Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2026
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Mrs C
Grantham, US
★★★★★ 5
Stretchy Material and Cooling Fabric
Color: Light Gray, Size: Standard, Color: Light Gray, Size: Standard
Material: is very stretchy and cools well. It has a zipper which is good because the fabric is very soft and slippery and if it didn’t have a zipper the pillow would not stay in the case. Durability: zipper works great and material is easy to clean. Color: I have the gray and my daughter has the pink. Both colors as advertised. Value: Good value and I got what I expected.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2026

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