Post #7 Common Character Types

 Common Character Types in Murder Mystery

In murder mystery media texts, there are many character types that contribute to not only the crime being solved, but also the complexity of the plot. The following are common character types in the genre;

• Detective- main character tasked with solving the mystery.
• Victim(s)- character(s) that set the story up and often have pasts that are important with figuring out the identity of the killer.
• Suspects- characters that have motives and reasons to murder the victim(s) but are actually not the true character. They are often used as red herrings, and sometimes one of them is actually the real killer but is 'cleared' early in the story for a plot twist at the end of the media text.
• Witnesses/Confidants- people who usually give the detective solid evidence or lead that sometimes helps the detective, but sometimes lead to a red herring.
• Sidekick- a character who helps with the investigation, usually closely with the main detective, they are also sometimes used as the comedic relief.
• The family/friends of the victim- these characters are often used for the emotional aspect and help reveal the victims backstory. Sometimes they can be an introduction to the killer, without the audience or detective even knowing it at first.

This information on different character types, contribute to the creation of building intricate relationship webs, secrets, and motives. This can allow me to make my plot engaging and intricate, as well as letting me create suspense.