Why ask why? The most important part of any type of book or story is that it is interesting. This is also particularly important in detective fiction. What's more interesting than having a crime committed in front of you, given all (or most) of the details and still not being able to understand it? This is exactly how crime writers draw people into these stories and books. By weaving a complex and interesting plot full of fascinating characters and all types of details about the crime, readers are drawn into the plot and cannot stop reading until they discover the solution to the mystery. Simply put, readers are drawn to detective fiction because it's so easy to become completely immersed in the stories. The author's trick is how to create such an environment so that readers return to the genre again and again. The easiest way to begin drawing any reader into a story is through the characters. It's vital to create characters that readers can both trust and relate to. Nick Charles in "The Thin Man" and Archie Goodwin in "A Right to Die" are both such characters. Each man is presented as being both completely honest and therefore trustworthy. This trustworthiness allows the reader to both believe and sympathize with the character. Additionally, showing flaws and different traits such as drinking, smoking, or looking at women gives a better insight into the character's personality. Again, the more a reader can understand and relate to the characters, the more they (the reader) will be drawn into the story. Many authors have written many stories and books using the same detective. By using a familiar character, it helps keep readers coming back to read these stories. Look at Rex Stout fans, these people go so far as to follow detectives Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin. Clearly, Stout was doing something right by using the same characters over and over again in his stories. Conan Doyle looked the same as Sherlock Holmes. The exact replicas of Holmes' house and the 3D renderings of Nero Wolfe's house are perfect examples of readers/fans being totally engrossed in these stories. Because readers have become familiar with and liked these characters so much, they continue to read stories about the characters.&n...... middle of paper ...... cunning and cunning crimes will not go unpunished . This notion plays on the idea that good always wins. Such a simple idea is easy to overlook, but can have profound results. Subconsciously, the reader understands that “good always wins” and this in turn will reduce their desire to do evil. So by having the detective always solve the case, which happens in virtually all detective fiction, the reader is more fulfilled and less likely to commit a crime themselves. Detective fiction is read, and has been for 200 years, simply because the stories are fun. It’s really the authors who help bring people back to the genre. This attraction to reading for pleasure would seem intriguing to any literate person, and that is exactly what detective fiction does. Because there is no serious moral or social value to be gained from reading these mysteries, people keep coming back! I've enjoyed reading detective novels for eight years now, and it's the simple act of escaping the "required" or educational reading that keeps me coming back, and is the most likely reason why detective novels have been successful to stay and are so popular during such.