I have been thinking about how mystery and romance novels have so much in common. They may seem worlds apart, but once you look deeper you see otherwise. Here are some things that make them so much alike:
- sometimes published by a dedicated imprint like Harlequin or Crooked Lane Books
- both are fast, easy reads, “reader’s candy”
- they often have their own book store like The Ripped Bodice or The Mysterious Bookshop
- they have the same subgenres: historical, cozy, paranormal, fantasy, etc.
- in romance the protagonist is looking for love “the right guy or gal”, in mystery the protagonist is looking for criminals “the bad guy or gal”
- the action, sex or violence, can be on or off camera
- many pay homage to the classics, for romance – Jane Austin, for mystery – Agatha Christie or Patricia Highsmith
- both have happy endings, love at last, jail at last
- they frequently have “punny” titles – Check & Mate or Sconed to Death
With this thin line between romance and mystery, I thought about turning some romance novels into mysteries. Just changing one word in the title will do it:
- One Day in December becomes One Death in December
- Red, White & Royal Blue becomes Red, White, & Royal Blood
- Things You Save in a Fire becomes Things You Kill in a Fire
Or how about the reverse, turning some mystery novels into romances. Just changing one word in the title will do it:
- The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo becomes The Girl with The Heart Tattoo
- Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone becomes Everyone In My Family Has Kissed Someone
- Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers becomes Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Dating
Let’s have some fun changing one word in a romance title to turn it into a mystery or changing one world in a mystery title to turn it into a romance. The crazier the better, have fun with this! Comment below.
