A recent post on DorothyL got me thinking about what we will accept in mysteries and where we draw the line.

It’s pretty much agreed that mystery readers will accept just about anything in the novels. That we will allow those wonderful writers to take us to places we might never go to and – often – never want to go. Other cultures, other viewpoints and even the minds of the worst villains are all part of what we not only accept but sometimes seek out.

We don’t want to live with a horrible person, but a well written mystery can help us understand where evil comes from and, ultimately, help us understand each other and ourselves.

OK, so this blog is getting all philosophical on me, but bear with me.

What most of use won’t accept in mysteries is cruelty to animals. I am with you on that. Though it does seem a bit odd that we will read the vilest violence on people but just don’t let it be directed to animal. Even we mystery readers have a limit for tolerance.

Another thing we won’t accept – and this was the recent talk on DorothyL – is stupid characters.

And I think that is because mystery readers are intelligent, insightful and will not accept anything less.

We’ve all dealt with stupid people in our lives – from those we encounter in the public to family, friends and acquaintances. Sometimes we have to put up with stupidity; sometimes we can avoid it.

So why should we put up with it in mysteries?

Stupidity can come in a variety of ways – bigotry, lack of common sense and an inability to see beyond your own thoughts.

So let’s focus on common sense.

A character who lacks common sense and acts, well, stupidly, can ruin a book for me. Especially when that character is supposed to be the lead.

Several years ago, I remember a mystery in which the lead – an intelligent woman, at the top of her career, well respected and all that – goes out to a graveyard in the middle of the night in pouring rain by herself. Of course, a serial killer has been on the prowl and she has a creepy feeling he is watching her.

Could she have not waited until the morning? Or at least gotten someone to come with her? It almost ruined the book for me.

Without naming names, have you encountered stupid characters? And what is your reaction?