THE MOTIVE OF MYSTERY IN THE NOVEL “THE IT GIRL” BY RUTH WARE

Abstract

The article examines the motive of mystery as a key structural and semantic unit of the detective novel, which determines its genre specificity and artistic organisation. Particular attention is paid to studying the functional load of this motive in the structure of the work, in particular its role in building intrigue, creating tension and stimulating reader interest. The focus of the study is R. Ware’s novel “The It Girl” which is a representative example of a modern psychological detective story and serves as the basis for analysing the genre and stylistic features of modelling mystery. Mystery is considered not only as a plot-forming element that provides the dynamics and direction of the narrative, but also as a complex artistic mechanism that forms a specific type of reader interaction with the text, in particular provoking engagement, interpretative activity and emotional empathy. This approach makes it possible to highlight the deep semantic structures of the work and to determine how the motive of mystery ensures the integrity and artistic expressiveness of the detective narrative.

The stages of formation, development and transformation of the motive of mystery in R. Ware’s novel are considered, with an emphasis on the functioning of retrospective perspective, unreliable narrator, fragmentary presentation of information, as well as metanarrative and visual elements. The multi-level structure of the mystery is highlighted – factual, psychological and symbolic. The importance of the sociocultural context, which enhances the atmosphere of mystery, is emphasised. The motive of mystery in the modern detective novel is interpreted as a structuring component and a means of engaging the reader in an intellectual game, creating a unique communicative situation between the text, the author and the recipient.