That's the proverbial bottom line offered by Mysterious Press and Warner Books Editor Kristen Weber when MB's Rachel Kramer Bussel asked her what she's looking for in a mystery: "[Voice] is something a lot of editors say and it is really hard to pin down what exactly that means. It is so subjective. I look for a really unique and accomplished voice and I want someone to really nail that. I can't edit a voice into a manuscript but I can always fix any problems with plot or pacing."

As for trends, Weber (who very graciously sends compliments my way) echoes many other editors who are looking for books that "have a hook or can stand out from the pack" from the thousands of mystery novels published annually, but she's also on the lookout for the darker side of crime ("the darker the better") and regional mysteries where the author is very locally connected -- and can be broken out first in that locale and then nationally, if successful.