187been a devoted reader of mystery novels. When I first
met her, I thought, “How curious that someone so intel-
ligent would be reading mystery novels all the time.”
It was especially interesting to me because Kathy is
one of the most literate people I’d ever met, a quick
thinker and a skilled professional writer and editor. Her
editing of my books had been the one thing, in my opin-
ion, that gave them the sparkle that people said they
enjoyed.
In my own ignorance, I assumed mystery novels were
pretty light fare. Hardly a challenge to the human mind.
Now I’ve begun to change my mind. Not only am I peek-
ing into some of the mystery books she has recommended
(I’ve enjoyed Agatha Christie and Colin Dexter), but I’ve
begun to find out more about what good mystery does
to the intellectual energy of the human mind.
Kathy has one of the most creative and energetic
problem-solving minds I’ve ever encountered. I con-
stantly marvel at her mental energy and perception
because it stays clear and sharp—all day, and long into
the night. I would often find my own mental acuity de-
scending the evolutionary ladder as night approached,
while hers stayed alive and creative.
The person with the highest IQ ever measured—
Marilyn Vos Savant—recommends mystery novels as
brain builders.
“Not only is this exercise fun, but it’s good for you,”
she says. “I’m not talking about violent thrillers, or
police procedural novels, but instead I’m directing you
to those elegant, clue-filled, intelligent mysteries solved
by drawing conclusions, not guns.”
Vos Savant sees the reading of mysteries as some-
thing that leads to a stronger intelligence.
“If you try to keep one step ahead of the detective in
an Agatha Christie or a Josephine Tey or a P.D. James
Read more mysteries