Introducing a mystery character

Manchester · Jan 10, 2008

What's the etiquette for introducing a character who's identity is to be hidden from the audience?

For example, early on you see the killer, Joe Brady, but his face is masked.

Later you see Joe in an everyday setting - he serves you coffee in your local coffee shop.

Finally, Joe's unmasked as the killer.

Do you write him as JOE BRADY from the start, but indicate that he's masked?

Plot Device · Jan 10, 2008

I'm assuming this is a whodunnit and NOBODY is supposed to know that Joe is the killer until the end. So I say you should treat your reader just like you would treat the viewer audience and keep the reader guessing also. Make the action paragraphs merely DESCRIBE what this masked person looks like to the viewer audience. Such as:

But then the KILLER, wearing a halloween mask, steps forth from the shadows. The mask hides all traces of skin and hair, and gloves cover the hands -- is Killer a man? --a woman? --pale? --tanned? Killer brandishes a knife and sneaks upon Barry from behind.

Killer GRABS Barry's neck, jerks him violently, and slits his throat. Barry falls to the floor dead as Killer dwells upon the spectacle in silence.

dpaterso · Jan 10, 2008

If I wanted the reader to be as surprised as the viewing audience when the reveal comes, I'd write them as two separate characters, the Masked Killer (?) and Joe Brady. Then after the reveal takes place ("The mask comes away and -- it's Joe the coffee guy!") I'd keep calling him Joe.

-Derek

NikeeGoddess · Jan 10, 2008

ditto what they said
and even if it's not a surprise to the audience:
in Batman Returns - Batman is BATMAN and Bruce Wayne is WAYNE

Manchester · Jan 10, 2008

Thanks for these responses. They all make good sense.
Cheers.

Introducing a mystery character

Manchester

Plot Device

A woman said to write like a man.

dpaterso

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NikeeGoddess

Manchester