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.
There is some debate as to what was the first detective story. Many people believe the roots of the genre can be traced to Edgar Allen Poe with short stories such as the tell tale heart. While the Victorian Gothic genre may have been dark and feature crimes, murders and so forth this was the first type of story that focused on the detective.
Naturally it is hard to mention detectives without mentioning Sherlock Holmes. This is a character who has appeared in countless plays, films and television series. It seems that every generation at some point rediscovers this character. In many senses he is the quintessential detective, a man capable of analysing the entire life of a person based on the dust on his hat.
This kind of thriller also has a certain kind of narrative voice. It is usually in the first person and from the perspective of the detective. It tends to follow the heroic narrative tradition albeit the hero is not going to a world of fantasy but a world of murky morals and corruption.
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.
In recent times this moral centre has been challenged. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and its sequels provide more moral complexity. With the Thomas Harris book Silence of the Lambs a detective is forced to share secrets with her prisoner, the infamous cannibal and murder Hannibal Lecter. While we are in no doubt that Lecter is evil and manipulative the story also shows he is intelligent and charming as well.
Over time the genre has had a number of twist and turns. As with any genre over time what appears to be tired can be revitalised by new voices adding their interpretation to classic stories. In recent times Scandinavian writers have become more popular. Just as the directors of French New Wave cinema interpreted cinema in their way so writers like Steig Larrson have presented their twist on world weary detectives and dark murders.
You can find numerous titles online. It is worth looking for reviews from fellow readers and crime thriller enthusiasts who can guide you through the various titles. Remember to check a broad range of views as this will make it easier to find something that will be best suited to your personal taste.
There is some debate as to what was the first detective story. Many people believe the roots of the genre can be traced to Edgar Allen Poe with short stories such as the tell tale heart. While the Victorian Gothic genre may have been dark and feature crimes, murders and so forth this was the first type of story that focused on the detective.
Naturally it is hard to mention detectives without mentioning Sherlock Holmes. This is a character who has appeared in countless plays, films and television series. It seems that every generation at some point rediscovers this character. In many senses he is the quintessential detective, a man capable of analysing the entire life of a person based on the dust on his hat.
This kind of thriller also has a certain kind of narrative voice. It is usually in the first person and from the perspective of the detective. It tends to follow the heroic narrative tradition albeit the hero is not going to a world of fantasy but a world of murky morals and corruption.
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.
In recent times this moral centre has been challenged. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and its sequels provide more moral complexity. With the Thomas Harris book Silence of the Lambs a detective is forced to share secrets with her prisoner, the infamous cannibal and murder Hannibal Lecter. While we are in no doubt that Lecter is evil and manipulative the story also shows he is intelligent and charming as well.
Over time the genre has had a number of twist and turns. As with any genre over time what appears to be tired can be revitalised by new voices adding their interpretation to classic stories. In recent times Scandinavian writers have become more popular. Just as the directors of French New Wave cinema interpreted cinema in their way so writers like Steig Larrson have presented their twist on world weary detectives and dark murders.
You can find numerous titles online. It is worth looking for reviews from fellow readers and crime thriller enthusiasts who can guide you through the various titles. Remember to check a broad range of views as this will make it easier to find something that will be best suited to your personal taste.
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