This is post 3 of 4 in the series “Plotting Foundations & Hooks” 5 Mistakes That Make a Cozy Mystery Flat — And How to Fix Them 7 Plot Hooks That Instantly Grab Readers in Cozy Mysteries Plot Hook: The Body at the Worst Possible Event Plot Hook: The Return of a Controversial Figure One of the most reliable opening hooks in mystery fiction is simple: a dead body appears at the worst possible moment. A celebration is underway. People are gathered. Emotions are high. Then something goes very wrong. A corpse at a joyful event creates immediate narrative friction. The moment the body is discovered, the tone shifts from…