Uncovering the Unseen: Writing Supernatural Detectives

Detective fiction as we know it began in the 19th century, and much of it was shaped by stories that valued wit, logic, and a dogged pursuit of the truth. Edgar Allan Poe is often credited with laying the foundation for the genre through The Murders in the Rue Morgue, in which Poe’s detective, C. Auguste Dupin, used analytical reasoning to see patterns others missed. A few decades later, Arthur Conan Doyle introduced readers to Sherlock Holmes, a detective with an almost supernatural skill for observation. Holmes’s cases, while occasionally touching on eerie elements, always circled back to reason and logic, allowing Holmes to expose the truth behind the seeming supernatural. Holmes’s “ratiocination” became the hallmark of the detective story, grounding the character’s actions in logic and deduction. Then came Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot, an eccentric sleuth who epitomized the “cozy mystery.” Poirot’s work, like Holmes’s, was grounded in reality.

But as the mystery genre has continued to evolve, many authors have begun looking beyond the traditional detective mystery. In supernatural horror fiction, our “detectives” may still be searching for answers, but they’re no longer dealing with mysteries bound by the rational world. Instead, they may be investigating the impossible, facing horrors that defy explanation.

Characters like Lizzie Borden in Maplecroft by Cherie Priest, Johannes Cabal in Jonathan L. Howard’s series, or the soldier in T. Kingfisher’s What Moves the Dead bridge the rational with the irrational, entering worlds where the strange and the sinister lurk just out of sight.

Let’s dive into the role of the detective protagonist in supernatural fiction and how they offer a unique twist on the mystery genre by exploring the supernatural world.

Redefining the Detective in Supernatural Mysteries

I think it’s important to be clear about what I mean when I say “detective.” For the purposes of genre fiction (whether you’re writing a mystery, a thriller, steampunk, or of course horror), your protagonist may be considered a detective regardless of their actual profession. As I see it, a detective isn’t always a professional sleuth in a trench coat. Indeed, any main character driven to uncover hidden truths can step into the detective role.

In my work-in-progress novel, Dead London, Jonathan Grimmer, a bareknuckle boxer steps into the role of detective when he learns that his father’s death was not due to natural causes. He begins uncovering clues, which lead him to believe that his father was murdered by a nefarious organization known as the Resurrectionists. In my other work-in-progress, The Ghosts of Evelyn Crowhurst, Evelyn is a maid at the British Museum with the ability to see the dead. By no means does Evelyn work as a professional sleuth, but when confronted by the ghost of a recently murdered girl who died at the museum, Evelyn decides to help uncover the mystery of her death.

A few other examples from popular novels: let’s consider Lizzie Borden in Maplecroft by Cherie Priest. Lizbeth is no detective by choice, but when dark forces threaten her loved ones, she begins seeking answers. In The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein, Elizabeth navigates a challenging life with Victor Frankenstein, unearthing secrets and doing whatever it takes to ensure her survival, all while piecing together the mysteries behind Victor’s horrifying work.

The beauty of the supernatural detective is that they often bring unique skills to the mystery—whether it’s an in-depth knowledge of the supernatural, a personal connection to the horror, or supernatural powers of their own. Johannes Cabal, the necromancer in Jonathan L. Howard’s series, is another great example. His knowledge of the occult gives him an edge, but his brash, calculating nature makes him a unique investigator.

Logic vs. the Unexplainable

Detectives solve clues using logic and rational deductions, yet they must contend with the irrational. This duality is what makes these stories so compelling: the detective’s struggle to maintain a logical approach while battling forces that defy explanation. How do we maintain a balance between logic and the unexplainable?

In the real world, what we know of the world is governed by science. In the fictional world, what we know of the world is determined by the rules defined by the writer. As authors, it’s our job to give rules to our world, to lay the foundations for the supernatural world.

In The Ghosts of Evelyn Crowhurst, Evelyn can’t tell the dead apart from the living. This is established early in my novel, and it’s an important rule that is essential to how Evelyn must solve the mystery. If I don’t stick to my own rules, the mystery’s conclusion will feel unsatisfying, but so long as I follow the rules I’ve established, Evelyn can follow a logical trail to make sense of the supernatural world she lives in.

In What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher, the protagonist is a soldier who faces supernatural horrors at a friend’s crumbling estate. With no framework for understanding the eerie phenomena surrounding them, they fall back on their military training and survival instincts to unravel the horrors.

The detective’s approach to the supernatural can build tension in your story. Maybe they attempt to document their observations using scientific terms or rationalize the haunting as mere hallucinations—until undeniable proof rattles them. This kind of internal conflict highlights the character’s development as they wrestle with their beliefs and the unsettling reality of what they’re facing.

Creating Your Own Supernatural Detective

When crafting your supernatural detective, think about their essential qualities. A supernatural detective may be skeptical or they may be at peace with the supernatural world. Either way, must be resilient enough to confront the strange. They often have a unique skill or perspective that fits the horror they’re investigating, setting them apart from classic detectives.

Johannes Cabal’s expertise as a necromancer makes him well-suited to investigating occult mysteries, though he approaches them with cold detachment. In Maplecroft, Lizzie Borden’s harrowing past gives her an unbreakable resolve, which makes her the ideal person to confront the Eldritch horrors looming around the town of Fall River. Consider what unique personality traits, abilities, or background your character might bring to the supernatural elements in your story. How might these skills help them confront what others might flee from?

Maybe your detective has an in-depth understanding of folklore. Perhaps they can commune or even raise the dead. They may also have flaws rooted in their supernatural connections. Perhaps they have telekinetic abilities but are afraid to use them due to a horrible accident they caused as a child. Maybe they have visions of death, which always come true but not always in the way they expected. Maybe years ago, they were haunted by ghosts, so they’ve shut their mind off to all things supernatural. Whatever their internal struggle, these flaws can add depth and realism to your character, making their supernatural encounters all the more intriguing (and unsettling). In horror especially, I find it’s especially important to give your character a fear.

In Dead London, the most effective way to kill a zombie is with a gunshot to the head, but Jonathan, has a fear of guns, rooted in his experiences at war. This makes each confrontation with the dead more harrowing, as Jonathan doesn’t just fight to survive, but fights with his own internal demons as well.

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Conclusion

By combining rational deduction with consistent worldbuilding, your supernatural mystery will allow your characters to confront the supernatural world, following a trail of answers that defy explanation all the way to a satisfying conclusion. Remember to maintain a balance between skepticism and belief, logic and fear, ability and vulnerability. After all, the most gripping mysteries are those that reveal as much about the detective as they do about the horrors they uncover.

If you’d like to explore supernatural detectives further and to learn how to create your own, I’ll be running a workshop with the Alexandra Writers Centre Society, where we’ll dive into exercises, techniques, and genre-specific tips for crafting your own paranormal investigator.

If you’d like to join us, be sure to register at:

https://www.alexandrawriters.org/store/p673/supernatural-detectives.html