Key Takeaways
- Detective stories work because we’re wired to ask questions.
- To love a detective, we need to trust they’ll find the answer no matter .
- A good sidekick goes a long way and is often the most relatable character.
Why do we see police lights whiz by and wonder where they’re headed?
Because we, as humans, are curious. Always have been. We want to know what, why, and how. It’s the same trait that drove humanity to figure out what was edible – and what wasn’t – and advanced us from a species living in huts to one living in high-rises.
And it’s that curiosity that has kept us glued to detective stories since Edgar Allan Poe invented the genre in 1841 with The Murders in the Rue Morgue. While the storylines and methods may change, there are a handful of hooks that every great detective tale needs to have.
1. The detective needs to know more than we do.
When you watch Tom Selleck as Jesse Stone, for instance, he always seems to be a step ahead. He knows the right questions to ask and seems to possess an ability to connect dots that mere mortals miss. Even when he’s taking a punch right in the mustache, it’s because he’s getting closer to the answer.
2. Misdirection is a must.
The very best mysteries have audiences absolutely certain they know the culprit, right up until the real answer is revealed.
It satisfies our itch in a repeatable but ever-changing fashion. It’s that guarantee that by the end, we’ll know the answer. Even then, along the way, we are spellbound by the pursuit. It can’t be the brother-in-law … but his alibi is questionable. It couldn’t be Steve, but then again, he does need the money.
While we can’t solve the problems in our own lives with the flip of a page or the flick of a remote, we can count on a good whodunit to ease our minds.
3. They are vehicles for our emotions.
In the best detective tales, the leading star should be a placeholder for the audience, letting us see ourselves in the story. We don’t want perfect; we want a person. This comes to life in a number of ways. They sip the sauce a little too often, trust someone when they shouldn’t, and may have a fumbled case file or two in their past.
If there’s one fact of the world, it’s that making mistakes is part of being alive. Seeing that quality on screen gives a detective tale the proper level of depth.
4. They have a good sidekick.
Andy Griffith and Barney Fife. Marshal Matt Dillon and Chester Goode or Festus Haggen. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson. You don’t get one without the other.
Call them comic relief or call them the secret weapon.
A great sidekick does more than stand a step behind. Their loyalty doesn’t just support the detective; it shapes how we feel about them. Through the sidekick’s eyes, the detective becomes more human, more understandable, even when they drift toward being a jerk. These trusted partners soften the edges, making brilliance seem more approachable.
In the end, they’re not just along for the ride; often, they’re the reason we stay invested in the story.
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About the Author
Born and raised in South Texas, Cavender Neutze is a writer who prefers to start his days with breakfast tacos and end them with classic Westerns. After graduating with a degree in Telecommunication Media Studies from Texas A&M University in 2014, Cavender began his journalistic career covering every collegiate sport under the sun. Since 2021, he has returned to his cowboy roots as a contributor for INSP. An avid golfer, reader, and lover of history, Cavender is always willing to wax poetically on the values espoused by generations who came before him.
