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.
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.
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.
These stories contain a lot of the conventions we associate with the genre. They feature detectives speaking from a first person perspective, often providing witty asides to the reader as they look at the murky and morally dubious world around them. However while the detective may appear world weary there is often enough of a moral code that drives them.
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.
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.
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.
These stories contain a lot of the conventions we associate with the genre. They feature detectives speaking from a first person perspective, often providing witty asides to the reader as they look at the murky and morally dubious world around them. However while the detective may appear world weary there is often enough of a moral code that drives them.
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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