The Power of Side Characters: A Reflection of Mystery Novels by Riley, Jewell, and Lodge

I am an ardent fan of mystery novels. Most of the time, once I start, I can't stop. Recently, however, I read a novel where the mystery and writing style were both good, but it felt like a dinner-time TV sitcom—something easily forgotten the moment you're distracted by something else. After thinking about what went wrong with this novel, I came to a realization.

So, recently, I read three mystery novels, i.e. She Lies in Wait: A Novel by Gytha Lodge, The Murders at Fleat House by Lucinda Riley and The Family Upstairs Book by Lisa Jewell. All three were amazing mysteries, and you'll find it difficult to guess what happened. However, I preferred the ones written by Riley and Jewell over the one by Lodge. This had nothing to do with the writing style or the murder mystery itself. Each writer had a unique and beautiful way of presenting their stories and mind-blowing thriller. But as far as depth in the story of side characters were concerned Riley and Jewell’s novel side characters had way superior and complex personality than Lodge’s. And if I have to compare Riley and Jewell, I would definitely go with Jewell’s scenario development. When I read the novel, it didn’t feel like the side characters were there just to provide support to the main story, but it seemed like they had a life of their own. Their own miseries, their own vices, their own demons. Not everyone was a murderer, but they did have some skeletons in their closets. This humanised the characteristics of the novel. In course of the novel, you would find yourself consoling the side characters, sympathising with them, or even fearing them. Especially when you are in the middle of a novel and the hidden lives of the side characters begin to come to light, you not only remain hooked but also find yourself becoming humbler. A well-written novel with multilayered characters has the ability to humble you and make you more receptive to a world you may only partially understand.