Wednesday, August 27, 2014

The Complex Appeal Of Crime Fiction Books

By Deanne Shepard


Revenge, cowardice, greed and lust are just some emotions humans deal with in the real world. Crime fiction books explore these emotions and perhaps this is one reason why they are so popular. We can live through the experiences vicariously and explore these emotions with all the fear and tension happening to someone else. However, it is hard to pin down exactly why we enjoy these novels so much and everyone asked will probably offer a different answer.

It is true that these novels have a way of catching the attention of the reader and keeping it all the way through as nuggets of information come to light. The story is usually driven by a murder and the desire to find the perpetrator. The reader is drawn in to solving the mystery too and participates in the suspense as it unfolds towards a conclusion.

Some authors are masters of the slow burn, where they unveil small apparently unrelated details and successfully tie them all up at the end. Others expose the reader to the killer and what he or she is thinking right from the beginning of the novel. We slowly begin to understand more about the person and what has made them into a killer.

We can often identify with the protagonist who is attempting to unmask the murderer. They are usually well drawn characters with their own flaws and demons who persevere despite the odds. When reading these novels, we enjoy following the thought processes of these protagonists as they begin to connect the dots and we even pit our wits against them to see if we can connect them before they do.

These novels are often set in interesting times or places. These are often described in such a way as to make the reader feel that they are actually living in that particular century or place in the world. Italy, Istanbul or Sweden are just some of these places and the action may even take place in the past or in the future.

In these novels the villain either gets caught or suffers the consequences of his or her behavior. It gives readers a sense of resolution and the reassurance that evil is punished and justice is upheld. Too often in the real world this does not happen and the guilty go unpunished.

These types of novels vary greatly from really gruesome thrillers to those more suited to the armchair detective who enjoys sleuthing. Some people prefer psychological thrillers or those where the forensic details are covered extensively. From the classic whodunit to those with more gore and action, there are those to suit every taste.

The same themes have intrigued humans for centuries and this type of novel offers a vehicle for vicarious exploration of many of these themes and emotions. Whatever the reason for reading such novels, the fact remains that they are a very popular form of fiction today. They are widely available and can be purchased from many sources, including online stores where reviews can be read before deciding what to purchase.




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