Mystery - Horror

[jbcohen]

When does a mystery book become a horror novel? Where is the dividing line?

 

[clueless]

I am not sure this is a good definition. I read mystery books but not usually horror books. I would say a mystery book becomes horror when it does not matter who committed the crimes and why and the focus is on the crimes themselves, usually very gory. But as I said, I don't really read horror, so other people can give you a better answer.

 

[Stewart]

When there's things.

 

[Shaun]

It's a very grey area between the two genres. But as horror is often frowned upon, more publishers would probably rather label a book a mystery rather than horror so as not to deter possible buyers. The same goes for thrillers. To me, Thomas Harris writes horror, to the publishers he's a thriller writer so you won't find his books in the horror section of the local bookshop.