I adore reading detective stories - I can read 2 or 3 Agatha Christie's books for one day (this is the only way for me to read them, bacause the information can mix in my head and very soon I forget who was the killer and I can enjoy the book again and again). But why do we like these stories? Because we like reading about murders... Or is it because we want to move our brains... WHY???

Hi, Varda. Welcome to FT! I see you have made only 3 posts and you seem to be finding you way around this site just fine.

I also love detective novels, but I particularly love spy novels, which is about the same thing.There is a novel called "The Bourne Identity" which is about spies and I absolutely could not put it down. The reason is, I think, that the action in these novels is non-stop. These books also have you thinking all the time. I find myself going back for pages trying to find a pertinent paragraph that might solidify an idea I may have about "whodunnit"! These types of books give our minds exercise that they might not otherwise get in real life. They sharpen our senses of observation and problem solving. I would rather read a detective or spy novel any day over a romance novel.

I think that the reason that I, personally, am addicted to detective novels is because of the fact that they keep my mind working. Mystery too. And I LOVE trying to figure out who did it!

I agree. I also love Agatha Christie, she has a way of writing which is still unreached. I just love to think about all the alibis and try to figure out if someone lied, and all that stuff. These "whodunnit" stories are simply the best!
Check out Jeffery Deaver, he's a great writer, and there's always some kind of plot twist in the end.

I love trying to figure out "whodunnit"!! When I'm reading a detective novel I'll often go back and see what someone said at a certain time, or whether they were in a room at a certain time etc......I never look forward though - that'd just spoil everything.

I'm a great one for detective stuff on the TV too!!

I adore Jeffrey Deaver!!!
He's one of my favourite authors. I have all Deaver's books that are published in my country. Congratulations for the good taste.

Ha, thanks Finally someone else who reads his books, too. I've already made three quizzes on Deaver novels, but they're only barely played

I think the reason people like detective stories, besides the fact that we want to figure out whodunit before the detective does, is that it's thrilling, but it's a safe kind of thrilling, unlike, let's say skydiving, or jumping off a cliff; we know that we aren't taking any risks when we read a detective story, kind of the same reason we love roller coasters. (I know, I know, roller coasters aren't entirely, 100% percent safe, because there might be undetected mechanical problems, or you might have heart problems you don't know about. But the chances of that are preeetttttty rare.) P.S. I hope this doesn't offend anybody, it's just my opinion.