So what is the key to a good mystery novel? I think I've cracked it!

WHAT makes a good crime novel? I imagine it can best be addressed as an acronym such as SEARCH, where the first letter forms its own associated word, and each letter lists the essentials: Strong, Engaging, Absorbing, Rich in style, Clear in structure, Helpful hook.

- Fred Hughes - Historian and author

In these times of initialised conversations, our language is filled with abbreviations and acronyms typically found in social media.

Mnemonics, which most students have used at the exam table, is the traditional way to compress information.

One I recall from police training college to prove an offender's guilt was MOPS, standing for Method, Opportunity, Preparation and Subsequent action.

SEARCH and MOPS come together in local author John Pye's new crime novel, 'Pray to The Devils.

This fifth book, and his second in cyber and forensic science, belongs to a genre which relies very much on the discovery and distribution of systematic clues that allow the reader to share the process in a scientific case.

Of course, it goes without saying that a forensic science storyline shouldn't baffle the average reader with science.

And although this novel takes an intricate route, there is no way the author tries to confuse the new reader to the genre, even though the tricky title might test the most ardent fan in relation to the plot.