so that.....a thrill

[Silverobama]

I wrote the following paragraph:

A good mystery story leads the reader down the path and gives clues along the way so that when a conclusion is reached, the audience can follow it and feel a bit of a thrill at the brilliance of the detective.

I'm not sure about the uses of words and phrases here.

a) Is "so that" good here? I think "so" is enough.
b) Is "a bit of a thrill" okay here?

 

[teechar]

down the path

I would use something like "through the plot" instead of that.

the audience

"the reader".

at the brilliance of the detective.

But not all mystery stories have detectives in them.

a) Is "so that" good here? I think "so" is enough.

I prefer "so that".

b) Is "a bit of a thrill" okay here?

It's okay.

 

[Silverobama]

Much appreciated. Please allow me to ask you some more question about this:

A good mystery story leads the reader through the plot and gives clues along the way so that when a conclusion is reached, the reader can follow it and feel a bit of a thrill at the brilliance of the detective.

a) Is the "the reader" plural here? Will it be better if I say "the readers"?
b) If there's more than one plot, can I say "through the plots"?

But not all mystery stories have detectives in them.

c) What can I say instead to avoid this problem? What phrase would you suggest?

 

[Rover_KE]

I've read a great many mystery stories in my life but can't ever remember being thrilled by the dénouements—stunned, astonished, gobsmacked perhaps.

I often admire the author's (not the fictional detective's) ingenuity.

 

[teechar]

a) Is the "the reader" plural here?

No, it's singular.

Will it be better if I say "the readers"?

No. The singular "reader" makes it feel personal.

b) If there's more than one plot, can I say "through the plots"?

Usually, a novel has one main plot. It can have sub-plots, but it usually has only one main plot.

c) What can I say instead to avoid this problem? What phrase would you suggest?

There is no problem.

 

[SoothingDave]

I find "down the path" to be better. "Through the plot" is a bit too literal for me.