Thursday, August 21, 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.

As readers, we are often privy to how the mind of the killer works from an early stage. This is often the hook of a psychological thriller. We are drawn into their world and begin to understand their motives and what drives them, however twisted this might be.

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.

The settings of these novels vary greatly. They may be set in various periods of history such as medieval times or even in the future. They are set in every country of the world, from Russia to Africa. The setting in which the action takes place may be described intimately and often forms part of the appeal.

The themes covered are those which have fascinated humans for years. Life and death, evil and good are just some of the high stakes issues involved. The emotions of greed, courage, cowardice, revenge and lust are all exposed. Reassuringly, evil is exposed and perpetrators must face the consequences.

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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