Title Page -- Copyright -- Dedication -- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -- ABOUT THE AUTHOR -- Contents -- foreword -- Introduction -- How This Book Works -- planning -- Introduction -- the premise -- the mystery sleuth -- the crime, victim's secrets -- the villain -- innocent suspects -- the supporting cast -- setting -- staking out the plot -- picking a title -- A BLUEPRINT FOR PLANNING A MYSTERY NOVEL -- writing -- Introduction -- writing a dramatic opening -- introducing the protagonist -- introducing major and minor characters -- dramatizing scenes, making chapters -- point of view -- writing dialogue -- creating a sense of place -- writing investigation: clues, red herrings, and misdirection -- writing suspense -- writing action -- puzzling it out writing reflection -- layering in backstory -- writing the coda -- revising -- Introduction -- flying high: fixing plot and character -- flying low: polishing scenes and sentences -- hearing criticism, finding your own fix -- selling your mystery novel -- Introduction -- targeting agents -- targeting small or independent presses -- putting together a query packet -- Appendix of Resources for Mystery Writers.