There are many Thriller and Mystery related plot tropes for books, but today I am only focusing on three:

1. Locked in/have to escape
2. Stalker
3. Missing person

“Locked in/Have to Escape”

A locked in/have to escape trope normally involves a main character or somebody who is close to the main character that has to escape a certain place or area. In most cases, the character is kidnapped or something that is out of their control is causing them to stay in the place of where they are at.

Examples: a locked room without windows, a cabin in the middle of the woods during a snowstorm, being locked in an attic or a basement

“Stalker”

This one basically explains itself.

In “stalker” based fiction, the main character is normally being stalked or is the stalker. Many novels use first person writing to engage the audience into the character. This makes the reader feel their emotions and get into their mind.

The stalker can be somebody the protagonist has met before, someone the protagonist suspects or has no suspicion of whatsoever, or it can be somebody close to them.

It can be anybody.

“Missing Person”

Three intriguing plot ideas to incorporate a “missing person” trope into your book:

1. Have the plot of the book revolve around a character that went missing many years ago or just recently before the story begins
2. Introduce a character to the reader who goes missing in the story as they are reading
3. Have the main character investigate a missing person or start an investigation about somebody who could be responsible for a missing person.