Mystery novels focus on the eternal conundrums of violence and justice, on solving the who, how and why behind legally and socially taboo acts--so we often assume a fundamental agreement on what is illegal or immoral. However, readers with an appetite for global mysteries need to be aware that one country's taboos can be another's customs. For example, polygamy is taboo in the United States (despite TV series on Mormon sister-wives), but Islamic cultures accept that a man can have up to four legal wives. Pedophilia is illegal and repugnant here, but child marriage and child prostitution are tolerated globally; in Greece, for example, pedophilia is defined as an "ailment" rather than a crime. Incest of the father-daughter, mother-son and brother-sister type is pretty much a universal no-no today, but laws on incest still vary within the United States when it comes to first-cousin marriage and even uncle-niece/aunt-nephew relationships. In the Netherlands, France and Spain, sex (as distinct from marriage) between consenting adults is legal no matter how closely related. Well, at least all societies agree that murder is wrong. Not really. Cultures differ by ignoring, condoning or punishing leniently homicides that the community has deemed justified: "Honor killings" in South Asia and the Middle East and "crimes of passion" in Latin America are examples. The "stand your ground" defense in some U.S. jurisdictions has sparked similar controversy and condemnation by human rights groups. For U.S. taboos that are considered acceptable in other countries, see http://www.buzzfeed.com/natgeo/lifestyles-that-are-taboo-in-the-us-but-are-okay-5n1c
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