I love to read mysteries, especially cozy mysteries. Recently I got to thinking: Would I make a good sleuth in real life?

What would I do well?

I’m nosy. I would be happy to dig around in people’s files or social media accounts, looking for a clue.

I’m observant. I notice little details, such as when items have been rearranged.

I like to come up with reasons for why people do what they do. That would be mighty helpful when coming up with motivations for different suspects.

What would trip me up?

Getting caught in a place I’m not supposed to be. In many mystery novels, the sleuth is searching for clues and has to hide when someone shows up. Hiding under a bed or in a closet would be nerve-wracking for me. 

Being the police’s number-one suspect. While it’s fun to read about run-ins with the law or watch them play out in a TV show or a movie, I wouldn’t want the police (or the whole town!) thinking I was a murderer.

Having to juggle a murder investigation in addition to my day-to-day responsibilities. I admire the sleuths in mystery novels, because not only do they stick up for the underdog, but they do so while also running a B&B (like in my Tech-Free B&B series), competing in a chili cook-off, or while on vacation. It’s a lot to keep track of!

Being a sleuth comes with a lot of hard work and a lot of responsibilities, but in the end I think the quest for justice is always worth a mighty effort. Lucky for us we get to experience that fight for justice any time we want in the pages of a good cozy mystery!