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.
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.
Of course when talking about detectives it is hard to ignore classics such as Sherlock Holmes. In many ways his stories are the quintessential crime thrillers. There are also the roots of the buddy genre with Sherlock Holmes and his sidekicks Doctor Watson while his conflict with the villain Moriaty and their battle of wills can be seen across a number of stories.
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.
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.
Of course when talking about detectives it is hard to ignore classics such as Sherlock Holmes. In many ways his stories are the quintessential crime thrillers. There are also the roots of the buddy genre with Sherlock Holmes and his sidekicks Doctor Watson while his conflict with the villain Moriaty and their battle of wills can be seen across a number of stories.
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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