When Graham Moore accepted his Oscar for The Imitation Game for best adapted screenplay, his speech wasn’t the usual thank you.

Instead, the 33-year-old screenwriter spoke of his bout with depression and of his suicide attempt at age 16. His message to those who also have depression was simple: “Stay.” Stay who you are.

A message that everyone should take to heart.

Before Moore became a sought-after screenwriter, he also was a mystery writer.

His novel The Sherlockian was published in 2010 and went on to become a New York Times bestseller.

The Sherlockian alternated between two time periods—a conference for Arthur Conan Doyle fans set in the present day and Doyle’s attempts to aid a Scotland Yard investigation in the year 1900.

In my review of The Sherlockian, I said: “The Sherlockian works as an insightful look at the rise of celebrities, extreme fans, and a character who continues to be bigger than life as well as a testament to the power of storytelling.”

My review later stated: “Moore smoothly delivers an evocative view of late-19th century London as well as its 21st century version. . . . Doyle would be proud of Moore’s ingenious The Sherlockian. So would Holmes. As will any fan of the Holmes canon.”

I also named The Sherlockian as one of the best debuts of 2010 and said, “The game’s afoot as Arthur Conan Doyle in the 19th century tries to prove he is more important than his creation Sherlock Holmes while a 21st-century Holmes devotee tries to solve the murder of a Holmes expert.”

Moore’s next project is to be the film adaptation of Erik Larson’s 2003 nonfiction The Devil in the White City, which is supposed to star Leonardo DiCaprio.

Moore isn’t the only mystery writer to transition to screenwriting and win an Oscar for his efforts.

John Ridley’s script for 12 Years a Slave won the 2014 Academy Award for best adapted screenplay, making Ridley the second African American to win the award.

Ridley wrote some terrific, hard-edged novels including Everybody Smokes in Hell, Stray Dogs, Love Is a Racket, and What Fire Cannot Burn. These were edgy novels about people on the margins of society.

Great movies from very good mystery writers.