Elements of surprise: What fiction plots tell us about our minds. Unexpected aspects of how our minds work are revealed in a fascinating book exploring the stories we tell to entertain ourselves ...

Walter Mosley of "Snowfall" speaks during the FX segment of the 2019 Summer TCA Press Tour at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Aug. 6, 2019 in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Amy Sussman/Getty Images) ...

The Elements of Mystery Fiction: Writing the Modern Whodunit William G. Tapply. Poisoned Pen Press, $16.95 (187pp) ISBN 978-1-59058-115-5.

Kim Fu's book contains 12 stories that peel away layers of normalcy to reveal weird, creepy things; though very different from each other, they share elements, giving the collection a sense of unity.