Novel approach to wellbeing: Why we really love murder mysteries
Millions of people enjoy crime novels, television dramas and murder mysteries every year, but new research suggests readers may be drawn to them for reasons far more profound than simply finding out “whodunnit.”
Researchers at the University of Bradford have found that crime fiction readers are less interested in murder itself than they are in understanding people, relationships and human behaviour.
The findings also suggest that reading crime fiction may support wellbeing by helping people find meaning, certainty and order in an often unpredictable world.
Finding order in chaos
The study, led by Dr Min Yong, explores how readers engage with crime fiction and whether those experiences contribute to wellbeing. Through in-depth interviews with readers aged between 46 and 81, researchers found that participants viewed crime fiction as a way of understanding people and society, exploring danger safely and escaping everyday pressures.
Rather than focusing on murder or violence, many readers said they were most interested in the motivations, relationships and decisions of the characters involved.
One participant told researchers: “I can’t remember who did it in half of these crime stories, but the things I remember are the people and the relationships they had.”
Comfort in crime fiction
Dr Yong, a self-confessed fan of murder mysteries and crime fiction, said: “People often assume readers are attracted to crime fiction because of the crime itself. What we found was something rather different. Readers were far more interested in the people, the relationships and understanding why individuals behave the way they do.
“Many participants described crime fiction as a way of making sense of a complicated world. The murder may begin the story, but what keeps readers engaged is the search for meaning, understanding and, ultimately, resolution.”
The study identified five key themes behind the appeal of crime fiction:
- Understanding people and society
- Finding order, certainty and resolution
- Exploring danger and uncertainty from a position of safety
- Becoming immersed in believable worlds and characters
- Using reading as a source of pleasure, escapism and wellbeing
The findings build on previous research which found that older adults who regularly read fiction performed better on some measures of social understanding than those who engaged less frequently with fiction.
Dr Min Yong, from the University of Bradford. Credits: Kiran Mehta/University of Bradford.
Reading between the lines
The researchers say the findings may have implications for reading-based wellbeing initiatives and social prescribing programmes, particularly for older adults who may experience loneliness or social isolation. They suggest that the benefits of reading may be strongest when people are encouraged to engage with genres they genuinely enjoy, rather than being prescribed specific books.
While the study focused on crime fiction, the researchers argue that its popularity may reveal something important about the human condition.
In a world that often feels chaotic and uncertain, readers may turn to stories that help them better understand people and make sense of complexity.
Dr Yong’s top 10 murder mystery and crime fiction novels
- The Guest List by Lucy Foley
- Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q Sutanto
- The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith
- The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo
- Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
- Murder at Mount Fuji by Shizuko Natsuki (translated by Robert Rohmer)
- The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
- The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side by Agatha Christie
- The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim
- The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo