Saturday, May 10, 2014

A Guide To Crime Thriller Novels

By Eloise Hewitt


Crime is something that has always fascinated people. Indeed the sociologist Emile Durkheim believed that crime was a vital part of society as it helped to highlight the flaws of society. In recent times it is also something that people have wanted to read about, whether tracking real life criminals or their fictional counterparts. There are a wide array of crime thriller novels and it is worth thinking about what kind you would personally want to read.

Before looking at the genre it is important to think how you would define the genre. There are different types of crime thriller. One version people forget is the true crime genre. This is where a writer talks about real life murders, gangs and so forth but presents them in the manner of a detective story.

Another example of the genre is the whodunit. In simple terms this is where a murder takes place and the detective has to track down the killer. Crucially they not only have to find them but they have to be able to prove that this person is the killer. Often the fun for the reader is checking the clues to see if they can be one step ahead of the detective.

There is also the classic noir genre. These detective novels are often about a wider conspiracy as opposed to a simple murder or set of murders. They tend to feature a world weary detective who has fallen on hard times and inevitably this case is their shot at redemption. While this is often associated with classic writers like Raymond Chandler there have been modern variations such as LA Confidential, a novel that seemed to embody a lot of the complexity and moral ambiguity that people love about the classic noir detective stories.

In recent times there have been twists on this kind of story. An excellent example is the Hannibal Lecter series of novels. In these stories a detective needs Lecter for information. The twist is that Lecter himself is a killer and there is a fascinating power struggle between the detective and the prisoner.

Cynicism tends to be a strong part of this kind of work. However there are also more accessible works. Agatha Christie created engaging detective characters such as Miss Marple and Poirot. Unlike the noir protagonists these characters seemed more engaged with society. Despite investigating horrible murders these characters seemed to be able to maintain their dignity.

Stories about murder and criminals do not necessarily have to be heavy in tone. Writers such as Alexander McCall Smith have a more light hearted approach. Also characters such as Poirot or Miss Marple often have a more comedic approach with a lot of the fun of the story being how they interact with society around them as much as the investigation of the crime itself.

There are a lot of titles available online. Some are written by established authors. However with the rise of electronic book devices there are more opportunities to find works by undiscovered authors that are not signed with recognised publishing houses. It is also worth checking online for feedback from fellow crime fans to find the ideal title to suit your personal tastes.




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