While crime is often depicted on television and the movies the novel remains an endearing source of entertainment in this genre. One of the big reasons is that it allows the reader to imagine that character and to create the world in their mind for themselves. This is very much the case with crime thriller novels and there are a wide array of titles to choose from that are likely to suit your personal taste.
When people think of crime thrillers they tend to think of noir style detective stories. The likes of Hammett, Chandler and so forth created a world of iconic images that many people have associated with detectives and crimes. For example when people think of a detective they tend to think of someone wearing a hat and a trenchcoat looking for clues.
However it is not just the physical appearance. People also associate the character with a kind of world weariness. Inevitably the detective is someone who wants to fight the good fight but has become cynical. Usually the next case is the one that gives them a shot at hope and redemption.
Another iconic image is that of the noir detective, usually a character dressed in a hat and crumpled trenchcoat as they pound the streets looking for a murderer. The term film noir refers to the detective stories in the cinema. However most of these iconic men in trenchcoats and their stories of murder go back to stories by writers such as Raymond Chandler and Dashiel Hammett.
While this is one type of thriller there are variations. One interesting psychological spin has come from the Hannibal series of novels. In The Silence of The Lambs we have a detective who has to rely on a prisoner for information on a killer. The twist is that this prisoner is the infamous Hannibal Lecter, an intellectual genius who is also a murderer and a cannibal.
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.
It should be said that there are plenty of more lighthearted stories as well in this genre such as the work of Alexander McCall Smith. In these stories the main character tends to be more charming and there is more of a sense of a warmer character despite investigating the murder. This is the literary equivalent of TV shows such as Columbo.
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.
When people think of crime thrillers they tend to think of noir style detective stories. The likes of Hammett, Chandler and so forth created a world of iconic images that many people have associated with detectives and crimes. For example when people think of a detective they tend to think of someone wearing a hat and a trenchcoat looking for clues.
However it is not just the physical appearance. People also associate the character with a kind of world weariness. Inevitably the detective is someone who wants to fight the good fight but has become cynical. Usually the next case is the one that gives them a shot at hope and redemption.
Another iconic image is that of the noir detective, usually a character dressed in a hat and crumpled trenchcoat as they pound the streets looking for a murderer. The term film noir refers to the detective stories in the cinema. However most of these iconic men in trenchcoats and their stories of murder go back to stories by writers such as Raymond Chandler and Dashiel Hammett.
While this is one type of thriller there are variations. One interesting psychological spin has come from the Hannibal series of novels. In The Silence of The Lambs we have a detective who has to rely on a prisoner for information on a killer. The twist is that this prisoner is the infamous Hannibal Lecter, an intellectual genius who is also a murderer and a cannibal.
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.
It should be said that there are plenty of more lighthearted stories as well in this genre such as the work of Alexander McCall Smith. In these stories the main character tends to be more charming and there is more of a sense of a warmer character despite investigating the murder. This is the literary equivalent of TV shows such as Columbo.
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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