Playing Detective

<p> PLAYING DETECTIVE </p> <p> A Self-Improvement Approach <br/> to Becoming <br/> a More Mindful <br/> Thinker Reader and Writer <br/> By Solving Mysteries </p> <p> By Robert Eidelberg </p> <p> The intentionally long subtitle to PLAYING DETECTIVE comes close to saying it all about this unique two-in-one book - but not quite. PLAYING DETECTIVE is both a book to read for the fun of it and a book to read for self-improvement if you are looking to become a better thinker reader and writer. </p> <p> The for-the-fun-of-it part comes from reading and wondering about the mystery-solving approaches and skills of the contemporary and classic detectives showcased in these 17 remarkable mystery stories. The self-improvement part comes from the book's four special interactive features: Suspicions? How Clever? DetectWrite and Don't Peek! </p> <p> Multiple Suspicions? intermissions in the margins of each mystery are strategically placed to help you to think like a detective - and like a good reader. Their provocative questions prompt you as you read to note and track clues and to make predictions while immersed in the mystery. </p> <p> How Clever? questions and activities located immediately after each mystery's conclusion give practice in the skills of detection and reflection so vital to the self-improvement goal of becoming a more observant reader and more mindful thinker. How Clever? sections enable you to review the now-solved mystery analyze the strengths and weaknesses of your own Suspicions? speculations and evaluate just how capable both you and the story's fictional sleuth were in arriving at a solution. </p> <p> DetectWrite writing prompts following all the How Clever? sections of each mystery help you to establish your own voice as a more effective writer in a variety of writing forms while also giving you many opportunities to write like a detective story author. </p> <p> At the very end of the book (but don't jump to any conclusions!) the more than thirty pages of the Don't Peek! section provide one reader's commentary: mindful explanations and a best reading of the solutions (not necessarily the answers) to the 17 case studies in PLAYING DETECTIVE. </p>