research on crime novel

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Crime Fiction: A Very Short Introduction

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Crime Fiction: A Very Short Introduction explores the history of ‘crime fiction’ and the various definitions of the genre and considers how it has developed over time. Discussing the popularity of crime fiction worldwide and its various styles; the role that gender plays within the genre; spy fiction, legal dramas, and thrillers; it explores how the crime novel was shaped by the work of British and American authors in the 18th and 19th centuries. Highlighting the works of Edgar Allan Poe, Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, and Raymond Chandler, the role of the crime novel in modern popular culture is considered and it asks whether crime fiction can be considered serious ‘literature’.

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Introduction: Crime Fiction

• First Online: 19 July 2018

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• Charlotte Beyer 3  

Part of the book series: Teaching the New English ((TENEEN))

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The Introduction to Teaching Crime Fiction presents and examines central questions and themes raised in the critical and educational study of this genre, exploring the ways in which crime fiction has been theorised in recent decades and the questions this raises for teaching and learning. The Introduction traces the contents of the individual essays in the volume, explaining the relevance and significance of the individual chapters’ topics and approaches to the book and summarising the arguments pursued. The Introduction argues that these thematic and pedagogical questions are central to crime fiction teaching and learning in the undergraduate classroom as well as in postgraduate study.

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See also my discussion of this piece in “In Praise of Crime Fiction”, Dr Beyer’s Page, 25 January 2016. http://beyerpage.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/in-praise-of-crime-fiction.html Accessed 27 December 2017.

Jill Girgulis. “Popularity of detective fiction course no mystery”. The Gauntlet . 19 January 2016. http://www.thegauntlet.ca/popularity-of-detective-fiction-course-no-mystery/ Accessed 27 December 2017.

Richard Bradford, “The criminal neglect of detective fiction”. Times Higher Education , 4 June 2015. https://www.timeshighereducation.com/content/the-criminal-neglect-of-detective-fiction Accessed 3 January 2018.

Katy Shaw, “Introduction”. In Teaching 21st Century Genres , edited by Katy Shaw. Houndmills: Palgrave, xiv.

John Scaggs, Crime Fiction . Abingdon, Routledge, 2005. 1.

Charles J. Rzepka, ‘What is Crime Fiction?” In A Companion to Crime Fiction, edited by Charles J. Rzepka and Lee Horsley. Chichester, Blackwell, 2010.1–10. 1.

Laura Marcus, “Detection and Literary Fiction”. In The Cambridge Companion to Crime Fiction , edited by Martin Priestman. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003. 245.

Stephen Knight, “Foreword”. In The Millennial Detective: Essays on Trends in Crime Fiction, Film and Television, 1990–2010 , edited by Malcah Effron. Jefferson: McFarland, 2011. 1.

Knight (2011), 2.

Martin Priestman, “Introduction: Crime Fiction and Detective Fiction,” In The Cambridge Companion to Crime Fiction , edited by Martin Priestman. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003. 2.

Priestman, 2.

See also Girguilis.

Rachel Franks, “Motive for Murder: Reading Crime Fiction”. The Australian Library and Information Association Biennial Conference. Sydney: Jul. 2012. 8.

Stephen Knight. “Motive, Means and Opportunity: Teaching Crime Fiction”. Professor Stephen Knight. 29 August 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20170313064908/http:/www.profstephenknight.com/search/label/teaching Accessed 27 December 2017.

Gerald Graff. Clueless in Academe: How Schooling Obscures the Life of the Mind . Yale University Press, 2003. 5.

Michael Prosser. “The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning: What is it? A Personal View”. International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning , Vol. 2, No. 2 (2008) 2. See also Patricia Cartney. “Researching Pedagogy in a Contested Space”. British Journal of Social Work , 45 (2015). 1137–1154.

Fletcher, 1.

Prosser, 1. Cites Boyer, E. L. (1990) Scholarship Reconsidered: Priorities of the professoriate . Princeton, NJ: The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of University Teaching.

See also Northedge, Andrew. “Rethinking Teaching in the Context of Diversity”, Teaching in Higher Education , 8: 1, 2003. 17–32.

Prosser, 3. See also Beyer.

Fletcher, 3.

See also Shaw’s listing of strategies for teaching and learning, xvi–xvii.

Prosser, 4.

Works Cited

Beyer, Charlotte. “In Praise of Crime Fiction.” Dr Beyer’s Page, 25 January 2016. http://beyerpage.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/in-praise-of-crime-fiction.html Accessed 27 December 2017.

Bradford, Richard. “The Criminal Neglect of Detective Fiction.” Times Higher Education , 4 June 2015. https://www.timeshighereducation.com/content/the-criminal-neglect-of-detective-fiction Accessed 3 January 2018.

Cartney, Patricia. “Researching Pedagogy in a Contested Space.” British Journal of Social Work , 45, 2015, 1137–1154.

Article   Google Scholar  

Fletcher, Lisa. “The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Popular Romance Studies: What Was It, and Why Does It Matter?” Journal of Popular Romance Studies , 3.2, 2013, 1–5.

Google Scholar  

Franks, Rachel. “Motive for Murder: Reading Crime Fiction.” The Australian Library and Information Association Biennial Conference. Sydney: July 2012. 1–9. http://www.academia.edu/2277952/Motive_for_Murder_reading_crime_fiction Accessed 21 May 2018.

Girgulis, Jill. “Popularity of Detective Fiction Course No Mystery.” The Gauntlet , 19 January 2016. http://www.thegauntlet.ca/popularity-of-detective-fiction-course-no-mystery/ Accessed 27 December 2017.

Graff, Gerald. Clueless in Academe: How Schooling Obscures the Life of the Mind . New Haven: Yale University Press, 2003.

Knight, Stephen. “Foreword.” In The Millennial Detective: Essays on Trends in Crime Fiction, Film and Television, 1990–2010 , edited by Malcah Effron, 1–4. Jefferson: McFarland, 2011.

Knight, Stephen. “Motive, Means and Opportunity: Teaching Crime Fiction.” Professor Stephen Knight , 29 August 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20170313064908/http:/www.profstephenknight.com/search/label/teaching Accessed 27 December 2017.

Marcus, Laura. “Detection and Literary Fiction.” c 245–268 . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003.

Northedge, Andrew. “Rethinking Teaching in the Context of Diversity.” Teaching in Higher Education , 8.1, 2003, 17–32

Priestman, Martin. “Introduction: Crime Fiction and Detective Fiction.” In The Cambridge Companion to Crime Fiction , edited by Martin Priestman, 1–6. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003.

Chapter   Google Scholar  

Prosser, Michael. “The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning: What Is It? A Personal View.” International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning , 2.2, July 2008, 1–4.

Rzepka, Charles J. “What Is Crime Fiction?” In A Companion to Crime Fiction , edited by Charles J. Rzepka and Lee Horsley, 1–10. Chichester: Blackwell, 2010.

Scaggs, John. Crime Fiction . Abingdon: Routledge, 2005.

Shaw, Katy. “Introduction.” In Teaching 21st Century Genres , edited by Katy Shaw, xiii–xx. Houndmills: Palgrave Macmillan.

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Beyer, C. (2018). Introduction: Crime Fiction. In: Beyer, C. (eds) Teaching Crime Fiction. Teaching the New English. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90608-9_1

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Crime Fiction: Introduction

Introduction

Introduction to Crime Fiction

Crime Fiction has become an incredibly popular genre. The resources in this guide will help you explore the different subgenres, gain a better understanding of the appeal of crime fiction, and learn more about the masters of the genre. The list of subgenres in crime fiction seems to be constantly growing. While crime fiction used to be limited to detective stories and thrillers, there is now a much greater diversity. We list some of them here. (Let us know if you think of others.)

♦ Detectives   ♦ Political/Espionage  

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Articles on Crime fiction

Displaying 1 - 20 of 53 articles.

Bri Lee’s and Louise Milligan’s predictable first novels combine noughties feminist politics with the swagger of 80s bonkbusters

Liz Evans , University of Tasmania

5 under-appreciated crime novels you should read

Stewart King , Monash University and Barbara Pezzotti , Monash University

Holly by Stephen King: a timely work of crime fiction about not judging a book by its cover

Andrew Dix , Loughborough University

Is Hercule Poirot autistic? Here are seven clues that he might be

Rebecca Ellis , Swansea University and Jamie Bernthal-Hooker , University of Suffolk

Crook Manifesto is strike two for Colson Whitehead’s ‘strangely inert’ Harlem crime saga

Sascha Morrell , Monash University

The Clearing’s investigation of The Family invites us to ask: what’s the appeal – and risk – of crime stories based on real events?

Martine Kropkowski , The University of Queensland

Indigenous crime fiction is rare, but in Madukka the River Serpent systemic violence and connection to Country are explored

Stewart King , Monash University

Girl, gone: Vikki Wakefield’s twisty thriller explores every parent’s worst nightmare

Eleanor Limprecht , University of Technology Sydney

Model minorities and murder: Tracey Lien investigates the Vietnamese Cabramatta of the 1990s

Anh Nguyen Austen , Australian Catholic University

In Iris, Fiona Kelly McGregor recreates the criminal underworld of Depression-era Sydney

Susan Sheridan , Flinders University

Heat 2, the book sequel to Michael Mann’s film, is ‘fundamentally bizarre’ – but superb

Ari Mattes , University of Notre Dame Australia

How crime fiction went global, embracing themes from decolonisation to climate change

Stewart King , Monash University ; Alistair Rolls , University of Newcastle , and Jesper Gulddal , University of Newcastle

Dervla McTiernan: a crime writer probing the complexity of relationships and the courage of good people

Kevin John Brophy , The University of Melbourne

What makes a good literary hoax? A political point, for starters

Camilla Nelson , University of Notre Dame Australia and Kerrie Davies , UNSW Sydney

Five of the best new crime novels to read this autumn (and one golden oldie)

Alec Charles , University of Winchester

Friday essay: beyond ‘girl gone mad melodrama’ — reframing female anger in psychological thrillers

My favourite detective: Claire DeWitt’s personal loss and blackout hours make her weirdly compelling

Peter Doyle , Macquarie University

My favourite detective: Jules Maigret, the Paris detective with a pipe but no pretence

Véronique Duché , The University of Melbourne

Poirot at 100: the refugee detective who stole Britain’s heart

Christopher Pittard , University of Portsmouth

My favourite detective: why Vera is so much more than a hat, mac and attitude

Sue Turnbull , University of Wollongong

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The 100 Best Crime Novels and Thrillers since 1945

This is one of the 300 lists we use to generate our main The Greatest Books list.

Mercy by Jussi Adler-Olsen

This novel delves into the gripping tale of a cold case that resurfaces, challenging the skills of Copenhagen's Department Q, a division dedicated to solving long-forgotten crimes. The story centers around the mysterious disappearance of a promising young politician five years prior, believed to have perished in a tragic accident. However, new evidence suggests a much darker fate. The head of Department Q, Detective Carl Mørck, along with his assistant Assad, embarks on a relentless quest to uncover the truth. Their investigation leads them into a sinister world of captivity and desperation, where they must race against time to save a victim whose time is running out. This thrilling narrative combines suspenseful twists, complex characters, and the stark realities of crime's impact on human lives.

The Man with the Golden Arm by Nelson Algren

"The Man with the Golden Arm" is a novel that tells the story of Frankie Machine, a talented card dealer and drummer in post-World War II Chicago who becomes addicted to morphine. The narrative vividly portrays his descent into addiction and his struggles with poverty and crime, while also exploring themes of despair, corruption, and redemption. The book is notable for its gritty depiction of life in the urban underbelly and its nuanced characterizations.

Absolute Power by David Baldacci

This thriller novel revolves around a professional burglar who witnesses a horrific crime involving the President of the United States during a break-in at a wealthy supporter's mansion. The incident sets off a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, as the burglar becomes the target of a cover-up led by the most powerful figures in the government. With the help of a disillusioned young attorney, he must navigate a dangerous path to expose the truth, challenging the very limits of authority and the concept of absolute power. The story combines elements of political intrigue, moral dilemmas, and suspense, making it a compelling read about corruption, betrayal, and the quest for justice.

The Deadly Percheron by John Franklin Bardin

This novel is a captivating blend of mystery and psychological thriller, set in post-World War II New York. The story follows a psychiatrist who becomes embroiled in a bizarre case involving a patient who claims to be part of a complex scheme orchestrated by leprechauns. As the psychiatrist delves deeper, he finds himself caught in a web of murder, amnesia, and intrigue, challenging his perceptions of reality and sanity. The narrative takes unexpected twists, exploring themes of identity, madness, and the thin line between truth and illusion, making it a compelling read for fans of unconventional detective stories.

Blacklands by Belinda Bauer

This gripping novel delves into the life of a young boy who embarks on a dangerous quest to bring closure to his family, tormented by the loss of his uncle, a victim of a notorious child serial killer. Living in a small English village, the boy decides to correspond with the imprisoned murderer, hoping to locate his uncle's body and heal his family's wounds. However, his actions unwittingly draw him into a chilling psychological game with the killer. The narrative masterfully explores themes of grief, redemption, and the desperate human need for closure, all while weaving a suspenseful tale that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

Dodgers by Bill Beverly

This novel follows the journey of East, a young Los Angeles gang member, who is sent by his uncle along with three other teenagers on a mission to kill a key witness hiding out in Wisconsin. The narrative delves into the cross-country trip that serves as a rite of passage for East, exploring themes of brotherhood, survival, and the quest for a life beyond the violent streets that shaped him. As the group navigates the unfamiliar terrains of rural America, their loyalties and their resolve are tested, leading to a climax that forces East to confront his past and future. The story is a poignant exploration of the complexities of growing up under the shadow of inevitable violence, and the possibility of redemption and change.

Dogstar Rising by Parker Bilal

In this gripping sequel set in the bustling streets of Cairo, the protagonist, a private detective with a troubled past, finds himself embroiled in a complex case during the sweltering summer months. The investigation begins with what seems to be a straightforward task but quickly spirals into a dangerous journey through the city's underbelly, uncovering a web of corruption that reaches into the highest echelons of society. As religious tensions simmer and a mysterious figure from the detective's past reemerges, the case becomes a race against time to prevent a catastrophic event that could shake the city to its core. This novel masterfully blends suspense, richly drawn characters, and the vibrant, chaotic backdrop of Cairo to deliver a compelling tale of crime and redemption.

The Asphalt Jungle by W. R. Burnett

This novel delves into the gritty underworld of urban crime, focusing on a meticulously planned jewelry heist that promises to be the ultimate payday for its diverse crew of small-time crooks and down-on-their-luck characters. However, as the operation unfolds, the group's carefully laid plans begin to unravel due to a mix of greed, betrayal, and the relentless pressure from law enforcement. Set against the backdrop of a bleak, post-war American city, the narrative explores themes of desperation, the elusive American dream, and the thin line between order and chaos in the pursuit of survival and redemption.

August Heat by Andrea Camilleri

In "August Heat," readers are plunged into the sweltering Sicilian summer, where Inspector Montalbano finds himself grappling with a particularly perplexing case amidst the oppressive heat. The story unfolds as Montalbano seeks refuge in a beach house to escape the scorching temperatures, only to stumble upon a perplexing mystery involving a murdered girl and a labyrinthine villa that hides more than just family secrets. As he delves deeper, the inspector must navigate a complex web of deceit, passion, and betrayal, testing his detective skills to their limits. This installment of the beloved series combines a gripping mystery with the rich, evocative setting of Sicily, showcasing the inspector's sharp wit and the local flavors of the island.

Thus Was Adonis Murdered by Sarah Caudwell

This book is a witty and intricately plotted murder mystery that follows the adventures of a group of young London barristers who become embroiled in a murder case while on holiday in Venice. The story is narrated by the erudite and humorous Professor Hilary Tamar, who, although never physically present, guides the reader through the twists and turns of the investigation. When one of the barristers is accused of murdering a man found dead in her bed, the group must navigate the complexities of Venetian law, art, and high society to uncover the truth. Combining elements of a classic whodunit with sharp wit and academic flair, the novel is both a homage to and a parody of traditional detective fiction.

Frozen Moment by Camilla Ceder

This gripping Scandinavian crime novel unfolds in the small Swedish town of Backudden, where a brutal murder shatters the winter calm. A local mechanic is found shot in the head, his body lying in the snow, leading Inspector Christian Tell and his team on a complex investigation. As they delve deeper, the case intertwines with the personal lives of the townspeople, revealing hidden connections and secrets. The narrative masterfully combines a meticulous police procedural with the exploration of human relationships and the impact of the past on the present. With its chilling atmosphere and intricate plot, the novel keeps readers on the edge of their seats until its startling conclusion.

The Long Goodbye: A Novel by Raymond Chandler

This novel follows the story of a hard-boiled detective in Los Angeles who becomes embroiled in a complex case when he befriends a drunk named Terry Lennox. After Lennox's wife is found dead, Lennox disappears to Mexico and the detective is left to unravel the mystery. The detective then takes on another case of a missing husband, which becomes intertwined with the Lennox case, leading to a web of deceit, corruption, and murder. The detective's pursuit of the truth leads him through a gritty and corrupt world, testing his resolve and morality.

Killing Floor by Lee Child

In this gripping thriller, a former military policeman drifting through a small town is arrested for a murder he didn't commit. Upon his release, he finds himself embroiled in a dangerous conspiracy involving counterfeit money, a vast criminal enterprise, and the mysterious death of his brother. Determined to uncover the truth and exact revenge, he must use his skills to outwit the local police, FBI agents, and the mastermind behind the town's dark secrets, all while navigating a complex web of corruption and violence.

Sparkling Cyanide by Agatha Christie

In this classic murder mystery, a year after the apparent suicide of a beautiful heiress during a dinner party, the same guests are reconvened by the determined husband who believes his wife was murdered. As the evening unfolds, it becomes clear that each guest has a motive for murder. Through a series of clever twists and turns, the story delves into the complexities of human relationships and the dark secrets that lie beneath the surface of respectability. The narrative culminates in a surprising revelation, as the true murderer and their ingenious method are finally uncovered, showcasing the author's mastery in crafting suspenseful and engaging whodunits.

The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy

This novel details the story of a high-ranking Russian submarine captain who aims to defect to the United States without sparking a war between the two nations. The American government, upon receiving information about the captain's intentions, sends its best analyst to aid in the successful defection of the captain and his crew. The novel is a thrilling tale of espionage, filled with suspense and detailed technical descriptions of military technology and procedure.

Blue Lightning by Ann Cleeves

This book is a gripping crime novel set on the remote Shetland Islands, where Detective Jimmy Perez returns home with his fiancée, only to be caught in a murder investigation when a renowned scientist is found dead. As a storm isolates the island from the outside world, Perez must navigate through a close-knit community full of secrets and lies to uncover the murderer. The harsh and beautiful landscape of the Shetlands, along with the complex relationships and tensions within the small community, provide a compelling backdrop to this mystery, testing Perez's detective skills and understanding of human nature to the limits.

About The Author by John Colapinto

This book presents a satirical and darkly comedic narrative centered around Cal Cunningham, an aspiring but unsuccessful writer who finds himself in a morally ambiguous and complex situation. After a freak accident leaves his more talented friend and roommate incapacitated, Cal seizes the opportunity to claim his friend's exceptional manuscript as his own. This decision catapults him into literary stardom, bringing fame, fortune, and a constant fear of exposure. The story delves into themes of identity, ambition, and the high price of stolen success, all while exploring the cutthroat world of publishing and the lengths to which people will go for recognition and acclaim.

The Manchurian Candidate by Richard Condon

The novel is a political thriller that delves into the dark world of espionage and brainwashing during the Cold War. It follows the story of a former prisoner of war who, upon returning to the United States, is hailed as a war hero. Unbeknownst to him and the public, he has been programmed by a foreign power to be an unwitting assassin. His conditioning is triggered by a complex set of stimuli, and he is directed to carry out a high-profile political assassination that could alter the course of history. As the plot unfolds, a fellow soldier begins to unravel the conspiracy, racing against time to prevent the programmed soldier from executing his deadly mission, which is orchestrated by a Communist conspiracy aiming to seize control of the American government.

The Last Coyote by Michael Connelly

In this gripping crime novel, the protagonist, a Los Angeles homicide detective, finds himself suspended from the LAPD and grappling with personal demons. Amidst this tumultuous period, he becomes obsessed with solving the decades-old murder of his own mother, an unsolved case that has haunted him since childhood. As he delves deeper into the investigation without the badge to shield him, he uncovers a web of corruption and secrets that challenges his understanding of justice and family. His journey is not just a quest for the truth, but also a path towards personal redemption and understanding.

The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton

In "The Andromeda Strain," a team of scientists investigates a deadly extraterrestrial microorganism that has wiped out an entire town. As they race against time to understand and contain the mysterious organism, they must navigate through various obstacles, including the threat of a potential outbreak and their own internal conflicts. With a blend of science, suspense, and government secrecy, this thrilling techno-thriller keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

The Moving Toyshop by Edmund Crispin

In this classic British detective novel, a poet on holiday in Oxford stumbles upon a woman's body in a toyshop at night, only to find the shop has vanished by morning. Teaming up with an eccentric literature professor, the poet embarks on a whimsical and cerebral quest to solve the mystery, navigating a labyrinth of literary references, quirky characters, and puzzling clues. The story combines elements of farce and traditional whodunit, leading to a climactic chase and an unexpected twist, all set against the backdrop of the historic university town.

Kolymsky Heights by Lionel Davidson

The novel is a gripping espionage thriller set in the frigid, remote reaches of Siberia, where a secret scientific research facility, hidden deep within the vast and treacherous Kolyma region, draws the interest of Western intelligence. The protagonist, a brilliant and linguistically gifted Englishman, is recruited for an almost impossible mission: to infiltrate the top-secret installation, Kolymsky Heights, and uncover its mysteries. Disguised as a native Siberian truck driver, he embarks on a perilous journey through the icy wilderness, facing extreme weather, treacherous terrain, and the ever-present risk of discovery by Soviet authorities. His quest for knowledge becomes a harrowing adventure of survival and espionage, as he delves into the enigmatic purpose of the facility and attempts to relay its secrets to the outside world.

The Ipcress File by Len Deighton

The novel is a cold war espionage thriller that follows an unnamed British intelligence agent who is tasked with investigating the mysterious disappearances of prominent scientists. As he delves deeper into the case, he finds himself entangled in a complex web of intrigue, betrayal, and brainwashing. Set against the backdrop of the 1960s, the protagonist navigates the shadowy corridors of international espionage, dealing with cryptic codes, high-stakes negotiations, and the ever-present threat of a global conflict. With its gritty realism and intricate plot, the story offers a gripping look into the world of spies and the psychological toll of undercover operations.

Ratking by Michael Dibdin

In this gripping crime novel, readers are introduced to a complex and moody detective, Aurelio Zen, who is tasked with solving a high-profile kidnapping case in Italy. The victim, a wealthy industrialist, is held captive by a mysterious entity known as the Ratking, a term that symbolizes the entangled and corrupt nature of the Italian elite. As Zen delves deeper into the investigation, he navigates through a labyrinth of deceit, power struggles, and family secrets, challenging his own ethics and the corrupt system he is a part of. The novel combines a richly atmospheric setting with intricate plot twists, offering a dark and sophisticated exploration of crime, society, and human nature.

The Pledge by Friedrich Dürrenmatt

This book is a gripping crime story that delves into the complexities of human nature and the limitations of the justice system. It follows the journey of a retired police detective who becomes obsessed with solving the murder of a young girl, promising the victim's parents to find the perpetrator. As he delves deeper into the investigation, his methods become increasingly unconventional, straying from standard police procedure and relying instead on a meticulously crafted plan to catch the killer. The narrative challenges the conventional detective story format, exploring themes of obsession, the unpredictability of life, and the moral ambiguities of justice, ultimately questioning whether the ends justify the means in the pursuit of truth.

The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco

Set in a wealthy Italian monastery in the 14th century, the novel follows a Franciscan friar and his young apprentice as they investigate a series of mysterious deaths within the monastery. As they navigate the labyrinthine library and decipher cryptic manuscripts, they uncover a complex plot involving forbidden books, secret societies, and the Inquisition. The novel is a blend of historical fiction, mystery, and philosophical exploration, delving into themes of truth, knowledge, and the power of the written word.

L.A. Confidential by James Ellroy

Set in 1950s Los Angeles, the novel follows three LAPD officers with different personalities and methods, who find themselves entwined in a web of corruption, sex, and murder. As they navigate the city's seedy underbelly, each officer faces his own moral dilemmas and personal demons, all while trying to solve a series of gruesome murders. The narrative explores themes of crime, power, and the thin line between right and wrong in a noir-style setting.

City Of Veils by Zoë Ferraris

In this gripping mystery set in Saudi Arabia, a young woman's brutal death becomes the center of an intense investigation that delves deep into the cultural and social fabric of the conservative Muslim society. The story intricately weaves the lives of several characters, including a female forensic scientist fighting against gender barriers, an American woman navigating her new life in a restrictive environment, and a devout Muslim detective torn between his duty and his faith. As they work together to solve the murder, they uncover a web of secrets and lies that challenge their beliefs and threaten to disrupt the delicate balance of their community. This novel not only offers a suspenseful crime story but also provides a nuanced exploration of the complexities of life in a society where tradition and modernity are in constant conflict.

Casino Royale by Ian Fleming

A British secret agent is tasked with bankrupting a French communist and paymaster of a Russian secret agency at a high-stakes card game in a casino. As he navigates the dangerous world of espionage, he encounters a beautiful woman who is being blackmailed by the enemy. The agent must outwit his opponents and survive numerous attempts on his life, all while grappling with his growing feelings for the woman.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

This thrilling novel revolves around the sudden disappearance of a woman on her fifth wedding anniversary. As the investigation unfolds, all evidence points to her husband as the prime suspect. However, the story takes a twist as the wife's diary entries reveal a darker side to their seemingly perfect marriage. The narrative alternates between the husband's present-day perspective and the wife's diary entries, leaving readers in suspense about what truly happened. The book explores themes of deceit, media influence, and the complexities of marriage.

The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth

"The Day of the Jackal" is a suspenseful thriller that revolves around an unnamed and highly skilled professional assassin who is hired by a French dissident paramilitary organization to kill Charles de Gaulle, the President of France. The novel intricately details the meticulous preparations of the assassin, his many disguises, and his method of operation, while also depicting the desperate efforts of the French police to uncover his identity and prevent the assassination, leading to a tense cat-and-mouse chase across Europe.

The Cuckoo’s Calling by J. K Rowling

This novel introduces readers to Cormoran Strike, a down-on-his-luck private detective living in London, who is barely scraping by. The story kicks off when Strike is hired to investigate the supposed suicide of a famous model, Lula Landry, who fell to her death from her apartment balcony. Despite the police ruling it a suicide, her brother believes foul play was involved and seeks Strike's help. As Strike delves deeper into the glamorous yet treacherous world of high fashion and celebrity, he uncovers a web of secrets and lies, revealing that Lula's life was far more complicated than it appeared. With the help of his determined and clever assistant, Robin Ellacott, Strike sets out to unravel the truth behind the model's death, leading to unexpected revelations and danger.

The Bellini Card by Jason Goodwin

In "The Bellini Card," readers are transported to the 19th century, where the Ottoman Empire's intrigue and mystery set the stage for an enthralling historical mystery. The story follows the eunuch detective Yashim, who is tasked with a delicate mission by the Ottoman Sultan: to find a lost painting by the renowned Renaissance artist Bellini. The quest leads Yashim to Venice, a city as enigmatic and layered as the mystery he seeks to unravel. Amidst the city's canals and fading grandeur, Yashim navigates through a labyrinth of deceit, danger, and historical secrets, relying on his wit and resourcefulness. The novel masterfully blends historical facts with fiction, offering readers a vivid glimpse into the past while keeping them engrossed in the suspense and intrigue of the detective's journey.

The Third Man by Graham Greene

Set in post-World War II Vienna, the story revolves around an American writer who arrives in the city to discover that his childhood friend, whom he had planned to meet, has recently died in a mysterious accident. As he delves deeper into the circumstances surrounding his friend's death, he uncovers a web of intrigue involving black market dealings, corrupt officials, and a complex moral landscape. The writer's investigation leads him to question loyalty, morality, and the ambiguous nature of friendship in a city divided by occupation and rife with espionage and criminality.

A Time To Kill by John Grisham

In a racially charged courtroom drama set in the Deep South, a young, white attorney takes on a controversial case defending a black father who takes the law into his own hands after his ten-year-old daughter is brutally assaulted by two white men. As the lawyer struggles against personal threats, social outrage, and political pressure, the town is torn apart by violence and prejudice, forcing its inhabitants to confront their own beliefs about justice, equality, and retribution. The narrative weaves through themes of racial tension, legal ethics, and the quest for vengeance, culminating in a tense and morally complex trial that puts the entire community's values on trial.

Little Face by Sophie Hannah

This psychological thriller revolves around a young mother, Alice, who insists that the baby in her home is not her daughter, Florence, but a stranger's child. Her husband, David, dismisses her claims, suggesting she's suffering from postpartum depression or worse. As Alice fights to prove her sanity and uncover the truth, the narrative delves into dark family secrets, manipulative dynamics, and the complexities of maternal bonds. The tension escalates with each chapter, weaving a tale of suspense, doubt, and the desperate lengths one will go to protect their loved ones.

Death Notice by Zhou Haohui

This gripping novel unfolds in a Chinese city where a vigilante killer, who goes by the name of Eumenides, is on a mission to exact justice on those who have escaped the legal system. The killer announces their intentions by sending death notices to the victims before carrying out the executions, challenging the police with the cunning and complexity of each crime. As the investigation unfolds, led by an elite police task force, the team uncovers disturbing links to a decade-old case. The narrative weaves through a maze of suspense, delving into themes of justice, revenge, and the moral ambiguity of taking the law into one's own hands. The story keeps readers on the edge of their seats, blending intricate plotting with a deep exploration of the characters' pasts and motives.

With A Bare Bodkin by Cyril Hare

This novel is a classic British mystery set during World War II, revolving around the peculiar happenings in a government office relocated to a remote country house for the duration of the conflict. The protagonist, an amateur sleuth working in the office, becomes entangled in a web of intrigue when a series of cryptic messages and a suspicious suicide prompt an investigation. With a blend of wit and suspense, the story delves into the complexities of human behavior under the pressures of war, revealing secrets and solving the mystery with clever deduction and an understanding of the human psyche.

The Lost Man by Jane Harper

In the unforgiving Australian outback, the death of a middle brother brings the surviving family members together to confront their complex relationships and secrets. The intense heat and isolation of the landscape serve as a backdrop to the unraveling mystery of the man's death, revealing deep-seated family tensions and hidden truths. As they delve into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, the family must navigate their personal grief and suspicions, ultimately uncovering shocking revelations that challenge their understanding of loyalty, love, and survival. The novel masterfully combines elements of a family drama with a suspenseful mystery, creating a compelling narrative that explores the depths of human emotions and the harsh realities of life in the remote Australian wilderness.

Fatherland by Robert Harris

Set in an alternate history where Nazi Germany won World War II, the novel follows a German detective who uncovers a vast conspiracy while investigating a murder. As he delves deeper into the case, he realizes that the government is hiding a monumental secret that could shake the very foundations of the Reich. His pursuit of the truth leads him into a dangerous game of cat and mouse with the state's oppressive security forces, challenging his loyalty to the regime and forcing him to confront the moral complexities of a world dominated by fascism.

The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris

In this gripping psychological thriller, a young FBI trainee is enlisted to interview an incarcerated and manipulative cannibalistic serial killer to gain insight into the mind of another active serial murderer. The trainee must navigate a complex game of cat and mouse, using her own wits and the killer's insights to understand and anticipate the criminal's moves before he strikes again. As she delves deeper into the investigation, she confronts not only the horrors of the criminal mind but also the darkness within her own past, leading to a tense and chilling confrontation.

The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins

In this psychological thriller, the story revolves around a troubled woman who becomes entangled in a missing persons investigation that promises to send shockwaves throughout her life. As she rides the train every day, she fantasizes about the seemingly perfect couple she sees from her window, until one day she witnesses something shocking in their backyard. Her decision to report it to the authorities leads her down a dark path of intrigue, as she struggles to piece together her fragmented memories and the tangled web of lies, deceit, and complicated relationships that surround the case. Her involvement becomes increasingly dangerous as she tries to prove not only what she saw, but also her own worth and sanity.

London Rules by Mick Herron

In this gripping installment of a spy thriller series, the story revolves around a group of British intelligence agents who are part of a secret service department known as Slough House. These agents, often referred to as "slow horses" due to their career mishaps, find themselves in the midst of a complex web of terrorism, conspiracy, and political intrigue. As a series of seemingly random attacks unfold across London, the team must navigate the murky waters of espionage, uncovering secrets and facing personal demons along the way. With a blend of dark humor, sharp wit, and intense action, the narrative delves into the challenges of loyalty, the impact of past decisions, and the relentless pursuit of justice in a world filled with ambiguity and danger.

Tourist Season by Carl Hiaasen

In this darkly comedic novel, readers are plunged into the chaos of Florida's tourist season, where a motley crew of characters, including unorthodox journalists and eccentric locals, find themselves entangled with a radical group intent on sabotaging the state's booming tourism industry. As bizarre incidents unfold, from alligator attacks to the kidnapping of a beloved local figure, the narrative weaves a satirical tale that explores the environmental and cultural impact of unchecked tourism. Through sharp wit and a gripping plot, the novel delivers a compelling critique of exploitation and corruption, all while entertaining with its absurdity and vivid portrayal of Florida's wild side.

The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

The Talented Mr. Ripley is a psychological thriller that follows the story of Tom Ripley, a young man struggling to make ends meet in New York City. When a wealthy shipbuilder mistakes Tom for a close friend of his son, Dickie Greenleaf, he offers him an all-expenses-paid trip to Italy to persuade his wayward son to return home. Instead, Tom becomes obsessed with the luxurious lifestyle of Dickie and his girlfriend, Marge, and goes to extreme lengths to make it his own, including identity theft and murder.

Cotton Comes To Harlem by Chester Himes

This novel is a vibrant and gritty detective story set in the heart of Harlem, where two astute African American detectives, Coffin Ed Johnson and Grave Digger Jones, find themselves embroiled in a complex case involving a bale of cotton stuffed with stolen money. As they navigate through the neighborhood's colorful characters and chaotic events, the detectives confront racial tensions, economic disparities, and the intricate dynamics of their community. The narrative combines humor, social commentary, and action, offering a vivid portrayal of Harlem in the 1960s and a critical look at issues of race and justice.

Ghostman by Roger Hobbs

This novel introduces readers to a masterful criminal known only as "Ghostman," who lives off the grid and specializes in making problems disappear for the underworld's elite. After a casino heist in Atlantic City goes disastrously wrong, he is called upon by a former accomplice to fix the situation under a tight deadline. As he delves into the task, he must navigate through a maze of betrayals, federal agents, and the remnants of his own past mistakes. With a unique set of skills and a penchant for meticulous planning, the Ghostman races against time to avert disaster while confronting ghosts from his own mysterious past. This gripping thriller combines high stakes, a shadowy protagonist, and a deep dive into the intricacies of crime, making it a compelling read from start to finish.

Smilla's Sense of Snow: A Novel by Peter Høeg

The novel revolves around Smilla Jaspersen, a woman of Greenlandic-Inuit and Danish descent living in Copenhagen, who investigates the mysterious death of a small Inuit boy who falls from the roof of their apartment building. Despite the authorities ruling it as an accident, Smilla's understanding of the Arctic snow and ice, her intuition, and her relentless pursuit for truth lead her to uncover a much darker, dangerous conspiracy involving powerful corporations and government agencies.

Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz

This novel is a mystery within a mystery, where an editor receives a manuscript for the latest book in a popular detective series, only to find the last chapter missing. As she delves deeper into the manuscript and the life of the author, she uncovers a real-life murder that mirrors the fictional ones. The narrative ingeniously intertwines the world of the manuscript with the reality of the editor, blending classic whodunit elements with contemporary intrigue. This layered narrative challenges the reader to solve not just the fictional crime, but also the mystery surrounding the author's death, making it a compelling read for fans of clever, puzzle-like mysteries.

In A Lonely Place by Dorothy B. Hughes

This classic crime novel delves into the dark and twisted mind of a serial killer masquerading as a war hero in post-World War II Los Angeles. Through a chilling first-person narrative, the story explores themes of deception, the aftermath of war, and the psychology of murder. The protagonist's outward charm and gallantry hide his true nature, leading to a suspenseful and psychological journey as his facade begins to crumble. Set against the backdrop of a city struggling to recover from war, the novel is a gripping exploration of loneliness, obsession, and the capacity for violence that lies within.

No Way Out by Cara Hunter

This gripping novel follows the investigation into a devastating house fire in Oxford, which claims the lives of two children and leaves their mother fighting for her life. As detectives dig deeper, they uncover a tangled web of secrets and lies, revealing that the tragedy is far from a simple accident. The narrative, rich with suspense and unexpected twists, explores themes of family, deception, and the lengths to which people will go to protect their secrets. The detective leading the case must navigate through the misleading clues and pressure from the community to solve the mystery, uncovering shocking truths that challenge the boundaries of justice and morality.

Strange Shores by Arnaldur Indriðason

In this gripping installment of a popular Nordic noir series, the protagonist, a deeply introspective detective, embarks on a personal journey that intertwines with an official investigation into a decades-old case. Set against the haunting and desolate backdrop of Iceland's landscape, the detective delves into the mysterious disappearance of a woman during a snowstorm, a case that has remained unsolved and has personal significance to him. As he uncovers long-buried secrets and confronts his own demons, the narrative explores themes of loss, redemption, and the inescapable nature of the past. The detective's quest for truth leads to a poignant and unexpected resolution, making this story a compelling blend of human emotion and suspenseful mystery.

Unnatural Causes by PD James

This gripping novel delves into the mysterious death of a prominent crime novelist found lifeless in his peaceful study. As detectives embark on a complex investigation, they uncover a web of personal and professional rivalries, secrets, and lies. Set against the backdrop of the English countryside, the narrative masterfully intertwines suspense with deep psychological insights, exploring themes of ambition, jealousy, and the nature of truth. The detective's methodical approach to solving the crime reveals not just the murderer, but also the intricate dynamics of human relationships and the dark undercurrents of the literary world.

The Lady In The Car With Glasses And A Gun by Sebastien Japrisot

This novel is a thrilling tale of mystery and suspense that follows the journey of a young secretary who, on a whim, decides to take her boss's car for a drive to the sea. What starts as an impulsive trip quickly spirals into a nightmarish adventure as she encounters a series of bizarre and frightening events, including being accused of a crime she has no memory of committing. With its intricate plot, the story masterfully blends elements of amnesia, paranoia, and deception, leading the protagonist and the reader through a labyrinth of twists and turns, all while questioning the reliability of memory and perception.

The Darkness by Ragnar Jonasson

This novel transports readers to the remote Icelandic town of Siglufjörður, where Detective Inspector Hulda Hermannsdóttir is faced with her final case before retirement. A young Russian woman's body is found washed ashore, and despite the initial ruling of suicide, Hulda's instincts tell her there's more to the story. As she delves deeper, she uncovers a web of secrets and lies, challenging her own sense of justice and morality. Set against the backdrop of Iceland's stark landscape, the story masterfully intertwines suspense with the complexities of human nature, revealing the darkness that can lie beneath the surface of seemingly tranquil lives.

March Violets by Philip Kerr

Set in 1936 Berlin, the narrative follows a hard-boiled private investigator navigating the treacherous terrain of Nazi Germany. Tasked with solving a high-profile case involving the theft of a diamond necklace and the murder of a wealthy industrialist's daughter and her husband, the detective delves into a world where political intrigue, corruption, and the rising tide of fascism intersect. As he uncovers more about the case, he finds himself entangled in the dangerous machinations of the Third Reich, revealing a sinister backdrop of power, betrayal, and moral ambiguity. This gripping tale masterfully combines historical detail with the classic elements of noir fiction, presenting a vivid portrayal of a society on the brink of moral collapse.

Out by Natsuo Kirino

"Out" by Natsuo Kirino is a gripping and dark psychological thriller set in Tokyo. The story revolves around four women who work the night shift at a factory and become entangled in a web of murder and cover-up. As they struggle to dispose of a dead body, their lives quickly spiral out of control, revealing their hidden desires and the depths they are willing to go to protect themselves. With its intense plot and exploration of societal pressures and gender dynamics, "Out" is a compelling and thought-provoking read.

The Bottoms by Joe R. Lansdale

This novel is a gripping Southern Gothic mystery set in the 1930s East Texas. It follows the story of a young boy, Harry Crane, who stumbles upon the mutilated body of a black woman in the Bottoms, an area near the Sabine River. As more victims emerge, the community is gripped by fear and suspicion, with racial tensions running high. Harry and his father, Jacob, a moral and just man, find themselves at the heart of the investigation, confronting not only the brutality of a serial killer but also the harsh realities of racism and injustice in their small town. The narrative weaves a tale of suspense, family bonds, and the loss of innocence, against a backdrop of a deeply segregated society.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

A disgraced journalist is hired by a wealthy industrialist to solve a forty-year-old mystery involving the disappearance of his niece. He is assisted in his investigation by a brilliant but deeply troubled hacker. As they delve deeper into the mystery, they uncover a twisted web of family secrets, corruption, and murder. The story is a dark and gripping exploration of Swedish society, as well as a thrilling mystery.

The Spy Who Came in From the Cold by John le Carré

This novel is a fascinating tale of espionage during the Cold War, centered around a British intelligence officer who is seemingly ready to end his spy career. However, he is given one last mission before his retirement: to bring down the head of East German Intelligence. As he navigates the dangerous world of spies and double agents, he is forced to confront his own past and the sacrifices he has made for his country. The story is a complex exploration of morality, loyalty, and the personal cost of political conflict.

Alex by Pierre Lemaitre

This gripping novel follows the harrowing journey of a woman named Alex, who is kidnapped and imprisoned in a wooden cage by an unknown assailant. The story unfolds through a dual perspective, intertwining Alex's desperate fight for survival with the relentless pursuit of her captor by Commandant Camille Verhoeven, a diminutive but brilliant detective. As Verhoeven delves deeper into the investigation, he uncovers layers of complexity surrounding Alex's past, revealing that she is no ordinary victim. The narrative escalates into a cat-and-mouse game filled with twists and turns, challenging the reader's perceptions of victimhood and vengeance, and culminating in a shocking and unforgettable climax.

Acqua Alta by Donna Leon

In this gripping installment of a celebrated mystery series set in Venice, the protagonist, a thoughtful and diligent detective, finds himself embroiled in a complex case that intertwines a brutal attack on a famous opera singer with a sinister burglary at a local museum. As the detective delves deeper into the investigation, navigating the atmospheric and flood-prone streets of Venice, he uncovers a web of deceit, corruption, and long-buried secrets. With the city's unique and treacherous acqua alta (high water) providing both a backdrop and a clue, the detective must use all his skills and local knowledge to solve the case before the rising waters erase all traces of the perpetrator's crimes.

Get Shorty by Elmore Leonard

A Miami loan shark travels to Los Angeles to collect a debt from a low-budget movie producer, only to get entangled in the Hollywood scene. Through a series of events, he ends up pitching a movie idea based on his own life as a mobster. This comedic crime novel explores the similarities between the film industry and organized crime, while offering a satirical look at the behind-the-scenes workings of Hollywood.

Jack’s Return Home by Ted Lewis

This gritty crime novel follows the story of a tough and morally complex protagonist who returns to his hometown to investigate the mysterious death of his brother. Set against the backdrop of the grim and violent underworld of the 1960s northern England, the narrative delves deep into themes of revenge, loyalty, and the inescapable pull of one's past. As the protagonist navigates through a maze of gangland politics and family secrets, he is forced to confront his own dark history and the realization that escaping one's origins is not as simple as it seems. The book is a compelling exploration of the criminal landscape and the bonds of blood, set to the rhythm of sharp dialogue and vivid, noirish atmosphere.

The Company by Robert Littell

This espionage novel delves into the intricate and shadowy world of the CIA, spanning from the early days of the Cold War in the late 1940s through to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Through the eyes of both fictional and historical figures, the narrative weaves a complex tapestry of loyalty, betrayal, and the moral ambiguities of intelligence work. The story follows the lives, careers, and personal sacrifices of CIA operatives as they engage in covert operations, counterintelligence, and the struggle against the KGB. The novel offers a gripping and detailed exploration of the global chess game between the United States and the Soviet Union, highlighting the personal and political costs of espionage.

Black Water Rising by Attica Locke

This gripping novel is set in 1980s Houston, Texas, and follows Jay Porter, a struggling African American lawyer who becomes embroiled in a complex murder investigation after he hears a woman scream and subsequently rescues her from the bayou. As he delves deeper into the case, he uncovers a web of corruption and deceit that stretches from the oil industry to the highest levels of political power. The protagonist's past as a civil rights activist and his determination to seek justice in a society rife with racial tension add layers of depth to this thrilling narrative, making it not just a compelling mystery but also a poignant exploration of race, power, and the quest for redemption.

The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum

In this gripping espionage thriller, a man is found adrift in the Mediterranean Sea with no memory of his identity but with an array of extraordinary skills that suggest a dangerous past. As he embarks on a desperate quest to discover his true identity, he learns that he is known as Jason Bourne and is pursued by assassins and government agents. Tangled in a web of covert operations, Bourne must outmaneuver his enemies while piecing together fragments of his past, which lead him to confront a global conspiracy and the realization that he was once a highly skilled operative.

The Zebra Striped Hearse by Ross Macdonald

In this gripping detective novel, the protagonist, a seasoned private investigator, is hired by a concerned father to delve into the background of his daughter's enigmatic fiancé, fearing the man's intentions are less than honorable. The investigation swiftly spirals from a simple background check into a complex web of deceit, murder, and long-buried family secrets. Set against the vivid backdrop of Southern California in the 1960s, the detective's journey leads him through a labyrinth of intriguing characters and twisted motives, where the truth is as elusive and shifting as the patterns on a zebra-striped hearse. This classic tale of suspense and intrigue masterfully combines psychological depth with a meticulously plotted mystery, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell

In this thrilling crime novel, an elderly farmer and his wife are brutally murdered and the only clue is the wife's dying word: "foreign." This sets off a series of events that involves a dedicated detective who must solve the crime while dealing with his own personal problems. The investigation becomes even more complex when the press catches wind of the dying word, sparking a wave of xenophobia in the community. The detective must navigate through the fear and prejudice to find the truth and bring the killers to justice.

The Weight Of Blood by Laura McHugh

This gripping novel delves into the dark underbelly of a small town, where family secrets and the weight of heritage play a pivotal role. The story centers around a young woman whose investigation into her friend's disappearance unravels a tangled web of lies, revealing unsettling truths about her own family's past. As she digs deeper, the boundaries between loyalty and justice, kinship and crime blur, leading her to confront the harrowing implications of the blood ties that bind her. Set against a backdrop of haunting Ozark landscapes, this narrative masterfully explores the complexities of identity, the deep scars of trauma, and the powerful human yearning for belonging and redemption.

13 Hours by Deon Meyer

This book is a gripping thriller set in South Africa, revolving around a harrowing day in the life of a private security consultant, Benny Griessel. Tasked with solving the murder of an American backpacker while another foreign girl is on the run for her life, Griessel's investigation unfolds over thirteen intense hours. As the clock ticks, the narrative weaves through the complexities of post-apartheid South Africa, touching on issues of race, politics, and the personal demons that the protagonist battles. The story is a fast-paced, action-packed journey through the streets of Cape Town, filled with suspense, twists, and a deep dive into the heart of its characters.

Beast In View by Margaret Millar

"Beast In View" by Margaret Millar is a gripping psychological thriller that follows the story of Helen Clarvoe, a troubled woman who becomes entangled in a web of deception and manipulation. When Helen receives a series of disturbing phone calls from an unknown caller, she becomes convinced that someone is out to destroy her life. As she desperately tries to uncover the identity of her tormentor, Helen finds herself questioning her own sanity and unraveling dark secrets from her past. With its intricate plot and complex characters, this suspenseful novel explores themes of obsession, betrayal, and the fragile nature of the human mind.

Sanctum by Denise Mina

This gripping novel delves into the dark and complex world of a young psychiatrist who becomes entangled in a web of mystery and danger when one of his patients, an artist with a troubled past, is suspected of murder. As he navigates the murky waters of mental illness, crime, and personal demons, the psychiatrist is forced to confront his own ethical boundaries and the shadowy figures that inhabit the sanctum of the human mind. Set against a backdrop of suspense and psychological intrigue, the story explores the thin lines between sanity and madness, guilt and innocence, drawing readers into a compelling narrative that challenges perceptions and keeps them guessing until the very end.

The Frozen Dead by Bernard Minier

In this gripping psychological thriller, a high-stakes investigation unfolds in the French Pyrenees when the decapitated body of a horse is discovered hanging at the top of a cable car station. Commandant Martin Servaz, a seasoned but weary detective, is called in to tackle the case, which soon escalates as a serial killer with a disturbingly clinical approach to murder emerges. The trail leads Servaz to a nearby high-security psychiatric asylum, housing some of the country's most dangerous criminals, and forces him to confront his own demons. As the body count rises, the detective must unravel a complex web of clues that challenges his notions of justice and sanity in a race against time to stop the killer.

Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley

Set in 1940s Los Angeles, the novel follows an African American war veteran who, after losing his job, becomes a private investigator to pay his mortgage. He is hired to find a white woman known to frequent African American jazz clubs, and in the process, he gets entangled in a web of political scandal and corruption. The story explores themes of race, class, and the complex social dynamics of the time.

Smoke And Ashes by Abir Mukherjee

In "Smoke And Ashes," readers are transported to 1920s Calcutta, where Captain Sam Wyndham, a British police detective, finds himself embroiled in a complex investigation amidst the political turmoil of India's struggle for independence. Battling his personal demons and opium addiction, Wyndham discovers a body with a gruesome wound, leading him into the dark underbelly of the city and a conspiracy that threatens not just his life but the very fabric of British rule in India. As he navigates through a maze of lies, betrayals, and dangerous ideologies, Wyndham must rely on his sharp instincts and the help of his loyal friends to solve the case and prevent chaos from engulfing the city. This gripping narrative masterfully combines historical detail with a compelling mystery, exploring themes of colonialism, justice, and redemption.

The Snowman by Jo Nesbo

This gripping thriller follows a determined detective as he investigates a series of chilling disappearances that occur on the first snowfall of each year. The only clue linking the cases is a snowman left at each scene, serving as a sinister signature from the perpetrator. As the detective delves deeper into the mystery, he uncovers a pattern of crime that leads him into a dark and complex web of secrets. The narrative builds with suspense, leading to a confrontation with a cunning and ruthless killer. Set against a bleak, wintry landscape, the story explores themes of obsession, loss, and the nature of evil, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until its shocking conclusion.

Hardball by Sara Paretsky

In this gripping detective novel, a tenacious female private investigator delves into the murky depths of Chicago's political landscape to solve the murder of a reporter. As she navigates the treacherous waters of corruption, organized crime, and the city's power elite, she uncovers a complex web of deceit that threatens to engulf her. With her sharp wit and unwavering determination, she confronts the dangerous forces at play, risking her own life to bring justice to the forefront in a world where playing hardball can have deadly consequences.

Metzger's Dog by Thomas Perry

The novel revolves around a cunning criminal named Chinese Gordon, who, along with his eclectic team, inadvertently stumbles upon a classified CIA document while planning a heist. The document contains information that could compromise national security, and as a result, they find themselves pursued by the government. The group, along with an intelligent stray dog they've adopted, uses their wits and unconventional tactics to outmaneuver the agents on their tail. The story combines elements of crime, espionage, and humor, as the band of thieves navigates the dangerous game of cat and mouse with the CIA, raising questions about the competence and moral integrity of government agencies.

The Godfather by Mario Puzo

The book revolves around the powerful Italian-American crime family of Don Vito Corleone. When the don's youngest son, Michael, reluctantly joins the mafia, he becomes involved in the inevitable cycle of violence and betrayal. Although Michael tries to maintain a normal relationship with his wife, Kay, he is drawn deeper into the family business. The narrative follows the Corleone family's struggle to hold onto power in a rapidly changing world, as well as Michael's transformation from reluctant family outsider to ruthless mafia boss.

Hide And Seek by Ian Rankin

In "Hide And Seek," readers are plunged into the dark, gritty streets of Edinburgh, where Detective John Rebus finds himself embroiled in a perplexing case. The discovery of a drug addict's corpse in a squat, posed in a hideously symbolic manner, draws Rebus into the murky depths of the city's drug trade and the high society that profits from it. As he delves deeper, navigating through a labyrinth of corruption, betrayal, and criminal intrigue, Rebus is forced to confront not only the demons lurking within the city’s underbelly but also those within himself. This gripping narrative masterfully combines a complex mystery with a profound exploration of the human condition, showcasing the detective's relentless pursuit of justice amidst the chaos.

The Invisible Guardian by Dolores Redondo

This gripping novel unfolds in the misty and myth-shrouded Baztan Valley of Navarre, Spain, where a detective returns to her hometown to investigate a series of eerie murders. The victims, teenage girls, are found in a state that suggests ritualistic killings, drawing the detective into a complex web that ties the present crimes to her own troubled past. As she delves deeper, local superstitions and family secrets emerge, challenging her rational beliefs and forcing her to confront the possibility that the answers she seeks might be as intangible as the mythical Basajaun, the invisible guardian of the forest. The story masterfully blends elements of crime, folklore, and psychological thriller, creating a suspenseful narrative that keeps the reader guessing until the very end.

The Keys To The Street by Ruth Rendell

This novel weaves a suspenseful tale set against the backdrop of London's Regent's Park, where the lives of the affluent and the homeless intersect with deadly consequences. The story follows Mary Jago, who donates bone marrow to save the life of a stranger, thereby escaping her abusive relationship. However, her act of kindness inadvertently draws her into a web of murder, deceit, and danger. As a series of brutal murders terrorize the park's inhabitants, Mary finds herself deeply entangled in a mystery that forces her to confront her own fears and secrets. The narrative masterfully explores themes of social inequality, redemption, and the complex nature of human relationships, all while keeping the reader on the edge of their seat with its gripping suspense and unexpected twists.

Heartstone by CJ Sansom

Set in the tumultuous period of Tudor England, the narrative follows hunchbacked lawyer-detective Matthew Shardlake as he embarks on a new case that leads him into the heart of a conspiracy and danger. Tasked with investigating a series of legal disputes for the Queen's cousin, Shardlake's journey takes him to Portsmouth, where the English fleet is preparing for a momentous battle against the French. Amidst the backdrop of impending war, Shardlake uncovers a series of mysteries and dark secrets that threaten not only his life but also the stability of the realm. Combining rich historical detail with suspenseful mystery, the story weaves together political intrigue, betrayal, and courage, showcasing the complexities of justice and loyalty in a time of national crisis.

Last Seen In Massilia by Steven Saylor

In this gripping installment of a historical mystery series set in Ancient Rome, the protagonist, a Roman detective, finds himself in the besieged city of Massilia (modern-day Marseille) during the height of Caesar's Civil War. Tasked with solving the mysterious disappearance of a woman amid the chaos of the siege, he navigates through a city teetering on the brink of destruction, uncovering secrets and confronting betrayals. The detective's journey is not just a quest for truth but also a deep dive into the complexities of loyalty, power, and the human spirit in times of crisis. Through vivid historical detail and intricate plotting, the narrative weaves a compelling tale of intrigue, resilience, and survival.

Harry’s Game by Gerald Seymour

This gripping thriller is set against the backdrop of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, where a British Cabinet minister is assassinated by the IRA. In response, the British government dispatches an undercover agent, Harry, to infiltrate the IRA and identify the assassin. As Harry delves deeper into the dangerous world of political violence and espionage, he finds himself caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse, where trust is scarce and his true identity is constantly at risk of being uncovered. The novel explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the moral complexities of warfare, delivering a tense and compelling narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

A Book Of Scars by William Shaw

This gripping novel is set in the late 1960s, weaving together a tale of murder, family secrets, and the tumultuous social changes of the era. The story follows a determined detective who delves into a cold case from five years prior, involving the brutal murder of a young woman on a farm. As the investigation unfolds, it reveals connections to London's criminal underworld and the Nigerian Civil War, exposing a complex web of racial tensions, revenge, and the long shadows cast by past atrocities. The narrative masterfully combines historical detail with suspenseful storytelling, exploring themes of justice, memory, and the indelible marks of violence.

The Silence Of The Sea by Yrsa Sigurdardottir

This gripping novel delves into the mysterious disappearance of a luxury yacht that arrives in Reykjavik harbor with no one on board. The story intertwines the investigation led by lawyer Thóra Gudmundsdóttir with the harrowing journey of the missing family at sea, revealing a chilling tale of secrets, survival, and sinister forces at play. As Thóra digs deeper into the yacht's voyage and the family's past, she uncovers a web of deceit that challenges her understanding of justice and morality, leading to a suspenseful and haunting conclusion.

Maigret And The Headless Corpse by Georges Simenon

In this gripping detective novel, the discovery of a headless corpse in a Parisian canal sets Inspector Maigret on a complex investigation. Without a head to identify the victim, Maigret must rely on his intuition and methodical approach to uncover the identity of the deceased and the motive behind the murder. His investigation leads him through the bistros and back alleys of Paris, drawing him into the lives of the colorful characters who inhabit them. As Maigret delves deeper, he unravels a web of deceit and secrets, challenging his perceptions of guilt and innocence. The story is a masterful blend of suspense and psychological insight, showcasing the detective's relentless pursuit of truth.

Point Blank by Richard Stark

This novel follows the relentless quest of a professional criminal who, after being double-crossed and left for dead by his partner following a heist, embarks on a path of revenge. Determined to reclaim his share of the stolen money, he navigates through a complex criminal underworld, facing off against both the syndicate that now possesses his money and the betrayal that set him on this path. His journey is marked by meticulous planning, unwavering determination, and a cold, calculated approach to achieving his goal, showcasing the protagonist's unique blend of moral ambiguity and relentless pursuit of justice on his own terms.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

A group of six classics students at a small, elite Vermont college, led by a charismatic professor, become entranced by the study of Greek culture and decide to recreate a Dionysian ritual, which ends in a tragic accident. The group, bound by their shared secret, begins to unravel as paranoia and guilt take hold. The novel explores themes of beauty and terror, the allure of the esoteric, and the destructive consequences of obsession.

Bleeding Heart Square by Andrew Taylor

This novel is a gripping historical thriller set in 1930s London, revolving around the mysterious happenings in Bleeding Heart Square. The story follows Lydia Langstone as she flees an abusive marriage and seeks refuge in the square, only to find herself entangled in a dark mystery involving the disappearance of Miss Penhow, the previous occupant of her new home. As Lydia delves deeper, she allies with Rory Wentwood, who is searching for the truth about Miss Penhow for his own reasons. Together, they navigate a web of deception, danger, and betrayal, uncovering secrets that some would kill to keep hidden. The narrative masterfully combines elements of suspense, historical fiction, and romance, creating a rich and atmospheric tale of intrigue and resilience.

The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey

The book revolves around a solicitor named Robert Blair who is called upon to defend two women, Marion Sharpe and her mother, accused of kidnapping a teenage girl named Betty Kane. Betty claims she was held captive and forced to work as a servant at the Sharpes' home, The Franchise. However, as Blair delves deeper into the case, he uncovers inconsistencies in Betty's story and begins to suspect that there is more to the accusation than meets the eye. Set in postwar England, the narrative weaves through twists and turns as Blair seeks to prove the innocence of the Sharpes in a society eager to find scandal and guilt.

The Killer Inside Me by Jim Thompson

"The Killer Inside Me" is a chilling psychological thriller that delves into the mind of a sociopathic sheriff in a small Texas town. The seemingly respectable lawman hides a dark secret, as he is also a cold-blooded killer. The narrative unfolds from his perspective, revealing his disturbing thought processes and his ability to manipulate those around him, all while maintaining his façade of respectability. The book explores themes of duality, deception, and the depths of human depravity.

Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow

A gripping legal thriller, this novel follows the story of a chief deputy prosecutor who finds himself accused of the brutal murder of his colleague, with whom he had a passionate extramarital affair. As the evidence against him mounts, he struggles to prove his innocence while uncovering corruption and deceit within the very system he once served. The story is a riveting exploration of the complexities of the legal system, human nature, and the concept of presumed innocence.

The Ghost Riders Of Ordebec by Fred Vargas

In this intriguing mystery novel, a detective is drawn into a small French town's ancient legend when a woman seeks his help to clear her son's name from a murder accusation. The town of Ordebec is haunted by the story of the Ghost Riders, spectral figures who are said to appear and take away the wicked. As the detective delves deeper into the investigation, he finds himself entangled in a web of local superstitions, family secrets, and a series of puzzling events that challenge his rational beliefs. The narrative masterfully blends elements of folklore and crime investigation, leading to a suspenseful journey that questions the boundaries between myth and reality.

A Fatal Inversion by Barbara Vine

In this psychological thriller, a group of young people's idyllic summer spent at a secluded English country house takes a dark turn when they discover a baby's body buried in the garden. Years later, the consequences of that summer resurface as the makeshift family's secrets begin to unravel, threatening to expose the truth behind the infant's death. The narrative weaves between past and present, exploring themes of guilt, memory, and the lengths to which people will go to protect their seemingly perfect lives from the stains of past sins.

The Collini Case by Ferdinand Von Schirach

This gripping legal thriller delves into the complexities of the German legal system through the lens of a seemingly inexplicable murder case. When an elderly industrialist is found brutally murdered, the suspect, an Italian man with no apparent motive, confesses to the crime, sparking a sensational trial. The young defense attorney assigned to the case finds himself embroiled in a deep-seated legal conundrum that challenges his beliefs about justice and morality. As he delves deeper, he uncovers a dark chapter of German history that reveals the true motive behind the murder, forcing him to confront uncomfortable truths about the past and its impact on the present. This novel is a compelling exploration of guilt, redemption, and the quest for justice in the shadow of historical atrocities.

The Border by Don Winslow

This gripping novel concludes a powerful trilogy that delves into the complex and brutal world of drug cartels and the war on drugs. It follows the story of Art Keller, a determined DEA agent who has spent decades in the relentless battle against the Mexican drug cartels. As Keller ascends to the top of the DEA, he faces not only the ruthless kingpins of the drug trade but also corruption within his own ranks and the moral ambiguities of his war. Set against the backdrop of contemporary political and social issues, the narrative weaves together a tapestry of characters and stories, from the cartel bosses to the addicts, the politicians to the hitmen, exploring the far-reaching impact of the drug war on both sides of the border.

Six Four by Hideo Yokoyama

In this gripping crime thriller, a former detective turned press officer is haunted by a cold case from 14 years ago, the unsolved abduction of a young girl. As he navigates the complex world of police bureaucracy and media pressure, he becomes entangled in a web of secrets and corruption that threatens to unravel his career and personal life. With meticulous attention to detail and a deep exploration of the human psyche, this novel delves into the complexities of crime, guilt, and the lengths one will go to protect their reputation.

The Times , 100 Books

The Times team pick their favourite crime and spy novels, from Agatha Christie and Georges Simenon to today’s edgy Scandi and Japanese masters.

Contributors: Francesca Angelini, John Carey, Max Freeman-Mills, Josh Glancy, Andrew Holgate, Alan Hunter, Peter Kemp, Claire Lowdon, David Mills, John Dugdale, Patricia Nicol, Nick Rennison, Karen Robinson, Mika Ross-Southall, Joan Smith, Johanna Thomas-Corr

This list has a weight of 40% . To learn more about what this means please visit the Rankings page .

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How to Write a Mystery or Crime Novel: 8 Tips for Writing Crime Fiction

Krystal N. Craiker

Crime fiction is a leading genre, and readers love the intrigue and suspense of a good mystery.

But writing crime fiction can be daunting. You must leave clues, create captivating characters, build tension, and have a believable villain and crime.

Today, we're giving you our top eight tips on how to write a crime novel.

What Is Crime Writing?

What is mystery writing, 8 tips for writing mystery or crime fiction.

Crime writing is a genre of fiction in which the main plot conflict revolves around a crime.

Crime fiction encompasses many subgenres, including police procedurals, psychological thrillers, and cozy mysteries.

The difference between subgenres depends on the level of violence described, setting, and types of characters, but they all have crime as the driving force.

There are three types of mysteries within the crime genre:

• Whodunits are traditional mysteries in which the perpetrator is hidden until the end. Think Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie.
• Howdunits focus on the "how" of the crime. These are police procedurals and detective stories where the protagonist tracks down the perpetrator. Famous writers in this subgenre are Joseph Wambaugh and Michael Connelly.
• Whydunits focus on the motivation of the perpetrator. This genre shifts the focus from law enforcement to the criminal, who functions as the protagonist. Examples are Mario Puzo’s The Godfather and many of Elmore Leonard’s criminal novel depictions.

The mystery genre is, for all intents and purposes, synonymous with crime fiction. Mystery is a major component of any crime story.

It is possible to have a mystery novel that does not involve a crime, such as uncovering a secret identity, but these are very rare.

Other genres may include a mystery as a secondary plot, but that doesn't make them part of the crime genre. The mystery must be the main plotline in order to be classified as a mystery or crime novel.

There are many elements to consider when writing crime fiction, so we've broken down the most important steps into eight easy tips.

1. Choose Your Crime

Crime novels feature a variety of crimes, which keeps the genre fresh and exciting.

You could go with a classic murder mystery or serial-killer story. There are heists, organized crime, kidnappings, blackmail, extortion, trafficking, and more.

First, choose your crime. As this is the primary source of conflict in your book, it's important to have the crime first and foremost in your planning.

Once you decide what type of crime your novel is about, plan more of the details. Where did the crime take place? Who was the victim?

You should consider whether it's a locked-room mystery, where the crime seemed impossible to commit, or whether there are multiple leads for your protagonist to follow.

2. Profile Your Villain

Police and other agencies often have criminal profilers. They create a profile for likely demographics, upbringings, and motivations. For your novel, you must become the profiler.

It's important to plan your villain(s) in a crime novel well. The mystery is only as interesting as the character committing the crime. But you must do so in a way that makes sense.

If your villain is pure evil, it can be hard to "humanize" them and make them feel real. If you go down the route of the twisted psychopath, they must have intriguing features to draw readers in.

Maybe there's an extra disturbing element to the crime scene, or maybe they play mind games with the detective.

But most criminals aren't evil, they are human. In fiction, this makes them just as interesting because readers like to see relatable elements, even in a villain.

Start with your villain's motives, then work backward. Ask yourself, why did they commit this particular crime? Give them a solid backstory and plenty of character flaws and character strengths.

3. Know Your Characters Inside and Out

Crime stories must have interesting characters besides the villain, too. In a mystery, the protagonist is the main character in the investigation.

They might be in law enforcement, a private investigator, or even an amateur detective.

The protagonist must have a strong motivation for wanting to solve the case. They will also need some internal conflict that holds them back or causes them to slip up during the story. Overcoming this internal conflict is important for a good character arc .

There should also be a cast of compelling characters who support the protagonist. Understanding how each of them connects to the mystery will help guide you as you plan conflicts and subplots.

Some subgenres have expected character archetypes. For example, cozy mysteries feature amateur sleuths and quirky side characters.

Most hard-boiled mysteries with a law enforcement protagonist feature a demanding superior officer and a nerdy scientist.

4. Research for a Realistic Crime

The details of criminal activity fascinate readers who love crime novels. They expect a crime novel to feel realistic. Researching the type of crime in the story is especially important for mystery writers.

The internet is a great starting point, but there are many other ways to find answers to those hard-to-search questions. Here are some other places you can find research material:

• Detective memoirs
• Specialty social media groups or accounts, like "Trauma Fiction" on Facebook
• News stories of similar crimes
• Interviews with experts
• True-crime documentaries

You can also find a research librarian at your local library to help you find great sources.

The more details you know about the crime in your novel, the more realistic your writing will be, even if they don't all make it into the final draft.

5. Decide on Your Sub-Plots

Mysteries are exciting, but they are just one external conflict in a story. A crime novel should have subplots that help drive the story along.

Romance is a common subplot in crime fiction. Family issues, career turning points, or a nemesis colleague can also form smaller conflicts and subplots.

Get creative and find subplots that match your genre but also feel fresh and exciting.

You'll also need a strong internal conflict , as we mentioned previously. Your protagonist needs to undergo character growth in the story so readers feel connected.

Your external conflicts do not necessarily need to be tied to the crime, but the mystery should drive your protagonist's character arc .

The case should teach them something or force them to overcome something.

6. Plan Your Clues

No mystery is complete without really great clues. But throwing in random clues as you write can feel inauthentic and trite.

It's a good idea to spend some time planning your clues before you start writing—even if you aren't much of a plotter .

Once you have researched the crime and know everything about how it happens in your book, you will have plenty of fodder for clues.

Start at the beginning. What clues will be immediately revealed to the detective or sleuth?

These are clues that are present at the scene of the crime, like suspects, blood splatter, broken locks, and dropped belongings.

Then plan the clues your protagonist will discover as the story goes on. They might come from forensic analysis or lab information.

Clues will also appear as your protagonist interviews witnesses and suspects, or as they dig into the victim's back story.

You should also plan a final clue that makes everything "click" for the protagonist. This is the last piece of the puzzle to discover the who/why/how of the crime.

7. Build Tension with Plot Twists

One of the best parts of crime fiction is the plot twist. Plot twists keep readers guessing. It can feel disappointing if the story unfolds in a way that is too easy to figure out.

Plot twists also build tension. Sometimes this tension will come in the form of your protagonist being certain of a lead, only to have it result in a dead end.

Other times, the usual suspects are ruled out, only to be brought back in as suspects at the end.

Red herrings are a common but exciting way to add tension to a mystery.

A red herring is a clue that is placed in a story to mislead or distract the readers. Adding multiple red herrings will make readers even more surprised when the truth comes out.

Avoid the deus ex machina , however.

This is an easy solution to the crime that appears out of nowhere. It does the opposite of building tension and feels clichéd.

8. Outline Your Story

It's a good idea to have a basic outline before you start writing because there are so many important details in a crime novel.

One outline method you can use is to modify the Hero's Journey . Here are what the stages of your story would look like:

• Establish the detective and crime.
• Set up the story.
• Show reluctance of the protagonist.
• First attempt to solve the case.
• Establish facts and create urgency.
• Broaden the scope of the crime and investigation.
• Deepen the detective’s backstory.
• Establish the big change where the detective realizes they're on the wrong track.
• Reveal the criminal’s motive.
• Find the mistake or missing piece of the investigation.
• Solve the crime.

You can also use other plotting methods like a Save the Cat! beat sheet, a Story Circle, or the snowflake method.

Be sure to include the clues that you planned in your outline. This will help them feel logical to the story and serve the overall mystery.

Writing crime fiction doesn't have to be overwhelming. With solid research and deliberate planning, you can write the next great mystery novel.

Writing crime? Join us for Crime Writers' Week: June 20 - 23, 2022

Unlock the secrets for writing, editing, and publishing a crime story at this weeklong free online summit. Connect with thousands of other crime writers while learning how to develop, write, edit, and publish a show-stopping crime novel.

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Krystal N. Craiker is the Writing Pirate, an indie romance author and blog manager at ProWritingAid. She sails the seven internet seas, breaking tropes and bending genres. She has a background in anthropology and education, which brings fresh perspectives to her romance novels. When she’s not daydreaming about her next book or article, you can find her cooking gourmet gluten-free cuisine, laughing at memes, and playing board games. Krystal lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband, child, and basset hound.

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'Baby Reindeer' viewers watched a stalking drama — then hunted down 'the real Martha Scott.' A psychologist explains why true crime turns us into armchair detectives.

• "Baby Reindeer" gripped audiences with the true story of a woman stalking an aspiring comedian. 
• Some viewers tried to identify the real-life stalker by hunting for her on social media.
• A psychologist told Business Insider why true crime turns viewers into armchair detectives.

Netflix's " Baby Reindeer " gripped audiences with the story of Donny Dunn, an aspiring comedian who is stalked by a woman after he shows her a moment of kindness in the pub where he works.

The series, which is based on the real-life experiences of its writer and lead actor, Richard Gadd , was met with rave reviews for its honest depiction of stalking and abuse, earning a 98% score on Rotten Tomatoes .

It's ironic, then, that viewers responded to a show about the psychological trauma of stalking by becoming armchair detectives as they tried to find both his real-life stalker and abuser, whose identities the show's makers said they tried to conceal.

According to Google Trends , among the top searches related to "Baby Reindeer" since the show was released in April were "Baby Reindeer real Martha" and the name of the woman fans think the stalker character is based on, as well as the identity of the man who abused Gadd.

The fervor with which viewers were trying to hunt the pair down led a woman, who claimed to be the real Martha Scott, to consider legal action against Netflix and Gadd . The unnamed woman told the Daily Mail last month that she has received "death threats and abuse from Richard Gadd supporters."

She said: "I'm the victim. He's written a bloody show about me."

Since then, broadcaster Piers Morgan has interviewed a woman named Fiona Harvey — who appears to be the same person the Daily Mail spoke to — promising to "set the record straight." The interview will air on Thursday.

TikTok sleuths also harassed Sean Foley , a British writer, comedian, and actor whom Gadd had worked with in the past, accusing him of being the star's abuser. Foley was forced to go to the police, and Gadd defended him, asking people not to speculate about the real identities of the people in the show.

Police have been informed and are investigating all defamatory abusive and threatening posts against me. — sean foley (@SeanFoleyJ) April 23, 2024

This isn't the first time the public has reacted to true crime series and even ongoing police investigations in this way.

In January 2023, for example, social media was rife with speculation after British woman Nicola Bulley went missing in suspicious circumstances, with some even trespassing on private property as they tried to investigate her disappearance.

The Mirror reported Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner Andrew Snowden said the force "lost control of the narrative" because of conspiracy theorists. The authorities even issued dispersal notices to members of the public trying to stage their own investigations in February 2023.

True crime blurs the line between real life and fiction

Dr. Ruth Tully, a UK-based forensic psychologist who specializes in assessing and treating sexual and violent offenders, told Business Insider that true crime blurs the line between entertainment and real life, with audiences consuming the content in the same way they'd watch a soap opera or a drama.

That's further complicated by some true crime audiences thinking they are helping to bring about justice by becoming armchair detectives.

Tully said: "It can be extremely harmful, and I think it's easy to forget that because we are understandably engaged and wrapped up in what is an interesting storyline, an interesting case, and I think it's driven from a good place. People don't like injustice, and it's good to act on injustice in many circumstances."

Related stories

Gorging on true crime can also be a way for some audiences, particularly women, to learn how to stay safe, according to Tulley.

"The theory is that through understanding perpetrator's behaviors and also victim behaviors, there's a principle that we might be better able to keep ourselves safe because we feel that we understand criminal behavior better. So that's one principle," she said.

In a piece published by The Guardian , titled "Why do women love true crime so much?" journalist Nancy Jo Sales suggested: "Women who date in the digital age have become online detectives to keep true crimes from happening to them."

For those with less honorable motives, Tully said that the separation between real life and social media makes the transition to armchair detective and harasser easier, especially when people can easily make fake accounts.

"What we do tend to find is with social media, people do feel like there's an element of anonymity because they might not have the true profile up, for example. So they feel that there'll be no consequences, and this might not be an active consideration at the time," she said.

"This isn't in-the-moment thinking. They don't necessarily think these things through like, 'Oh wow, they're not going to catch me' because it feels safer to them," she added.

According to a 2023 study published in the European Journal of Criminal Policy and Research on anonymous online harassment faced by influencers, harassers find strength in numbers. Numerous people harassing an individual "can lead to a diffusion of responsibility and moral disengagement among the harassers," its authors wrote.

Netflix says it's difficult to control what viewers do

This raises the question of whether streaming services and TV networks are doing enough to protect those involved in true crime content. How they would do this remains unclear.

In the case of "Baby Reindeer," Gadd said the team changed the characters enough to protect their real-life counterparts, but viewers were still able to find social media posts from a woman who fitted Martha's description.

It's unclear what steps Netflix took to protect the identity of those depicted in the show, including whether they contacted the stalker.

At a UK parliamentary hearing on Wednesday about British film and TV, Netflix policy chief Benjamin King said that the streamer took "every reasonable precaution" to disguise the identities of the real people involved.

However, he did not take responsibility for the harassment that took place after subscribers watched the show.

"Ultimately, it's obviously very difficult to control what viewers do, particularly in a world where everything is amplified by social media," King said.

Netflix previously came under fire for depicting the family of Errol Lindsay, one of Jeffrey Dahmer's victims, in the 2023 series "Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story." Lindsay's sister, Rita Isbell, criticized Netflix in an essay for Business Insider for not consulting with her or her family.

"I was never contacted about the show. I feel like Netflix should've asked if we mind or how we felt about making it. They didn't ask me anything. They just did it," she wrote at the time.

But regardless of how Netflix handles working with the real people involved in its true crime content, the responsibility to not harass people online over lies with the audience themselves, Tully said.

"It's a common sense decision that to track someone down and hound them might be harmful," she said.

Disclosure: Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Business Insider's parent company, Axel Springer, is a Netflix board member.

Watch: A detective explains how serial killer investigations actually work

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Fans already excited for ‘violent criminal’ BBC crime drama based on famous novel to be released

Rebus is an on-screen adaptation of the internationally best-selling inspector rebus novels written by ian rankin.

Crime drama fans are beside themselves with excitement following an announcement from BBC.

The broadcaster announced on 7 March 2024 that they have acquired a soon-to-air six-part series guaranteed to have us all gripped.

The name of the series is Rebus , and will be an on-screen adaptation of the internationally best-selling Inspector Rebus novels written by Ian Rankin.

Ian said of the adaptation: "I’m thrilled that Rebus is coming to the BBC .

"A great cast and a compelling story - I really can’t wait for viewers to see it.”

Rebus will be set in Edinburgh and reimagines the life of lead John Rebus (played by Richard Rankin) as a younger Detective Sergeant, who is ultimately led into a life of violence and criminality that hits close to home when his brother Michael (Brian Ferguson), an ex-soldier, ends up on the wrong side of the law.

John Rebus has to make the tough decision between family and morality.

Sounds like edge-of-our-seats stuff, and I can't wait.

The series will also star Lucie Shorthouse, Amy Manson, Neshla Caplan, Noof Ousellam, Stuart Bowman, Caroline Lee Johnson and Sean Buchanan and others.

The series has been written by Gregory Burke, who said: "It has been a huge privilege to work on a new show with Ian Rankin's iconic character at its centre, and I couldn't be more delighted that it is to be broadcast on the BBC.”

The official X account for BBC announced the air date in a tweet on 10th May that read: "Rebus is coming to BBC iPlayer on the 17th of May.

"The brand new crime series based on the best-selling Inspector Rebus novels by Ian Rankin stars Richard Rankin as a younger detective sergeant, who’s drawn into a violent criminal conflict."

Of course, it isn't only those involved in the production who are excited.

One person wrote: "Just seen an ad for the new series of Rebus coming very soon on BBC..looking forward to it!"

A second person added: "My dream came true. #RichardRankin is #Rebus."

A third chimed: "Bridgerton season 3 and Rebus the same weekend! Hot fangirl spring. I’m excited."

Rebus will air on BBC Scotland on Friday 17th May and on BBC One on Saturday 18th May.

Topics:  BBC , TV And Film , Twitter , UK News

Kya is a Journalist at Tyla. She loves covering issues surrounding identity, gender, sex and relationships, and mental health. Contact: [email protected]

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A Modern Mom Finds an Ancient Outlet for Feminist Rage

In Alexis Landau’s ambitious new novel, “The Mother of All Things,” the frustrations of modern parenting echo through the ages.

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Eliza Minot is the author of the novels “The Tiny One,” “The Brambles” and, most recently, “In the Orchard.”

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THE MOTHER OF ALL THINGS, by Alexis Landau

What is the source of maternal rage? The answer is as infinite as it is ancient. In 1965, the poet and essayist Adrienne Rich, with small children underfoot, captured a possible explanation for this abyss in her journal when she described it as “a sense of insufficiency to the moment and to eternity.”

But where — for moms, for women — does this nagging feeling of insufficiency come from? From the misogyny that we grow up with? From the helpless outrage we bear as our messy, gorgeous, individual maternal experiences are flattened by society into a weirdly infantilized stereotype that’s placed, like a paper doll, into a two-dimensional dollhouse called “Motherhood”? Or does it come from the profound feeling of helplessness that accompanies the ability to give life to a human being, but be unable to ensure that life’s safety?

Ava Zaretsky, the diligent heroine of Alexis Landau’s ambitious and engaging new novel, “The Mother of All Things” (her third after “Those Who Are Saved” and “The Emperor of the Senses”), simmers with a steady rage that never fully erupts toward her kids (Sam, 10, and Margot, 13, who’s at the edge of “adolescence’s dark tunnel”) or her husband, Kasper, a preoccupied Los Angeles film producer. Rather, Ava’s rage burns beneath the surface, “so white and hot it blurred the contours of her body.” She is angry that, in a marriage of supposed equals circa 2019, Kasper can relocate to Sofia, Bulgaria, for a six-month film shoot without a second thought, while her own work as an adjunct art history professor is smudged out by the needs of her family. Her fury is also embedded, we later learn, in the powerlessness that comes with profound loss.

When the family joins Kasper in Sofia for the summer, the kids enroll in a day camp, allowing Ava to wander this mysterious city. Her curiosity and creativity bubble to the surface. She begins writing about an ancient Greek woman whose life parallels and dovetails with her own, and whose narrative is interspersed throughout the pages of the novel. By coincidence, Ava also reconnects in Sofia with an intimidating former professor named Lydia Nikitas and becomes involved in a group of women who participate in re-enactments of ancient rites and rituals, most notably the Eleusinian Mysteries.

Despite some moments that feel forced and overly earnest, particularly in the ancient narrative and the Nikitas story line, Landau’s writing is accessible, specific, lush and transporting. Her research is rigorous and full of elegant effort. The great success of this novel is the author’s sustained exploration of a woman in early midlife who, seething quietly on the inside but operating gracefully on the outside, bravely re-evaluates how her life has unfolded in order to progress as a mother to herself. Renderings of Ava’s childhood — a heartbreaking recollection of a favorite red belt, memories of a father’s girlfriend entering her life and then leaving it — are especially astute and rich.

At times, the novel’s disparate parts compete with rather than complement one another; some characters seem predictable, and certain ideas redundant. When things are meant to get weird, as in the rituals, it can feel more Scooby-Doo than genuinely haunting. For this reason, more than once, I felt like shaking the book like a snow globe, as if its fascinating contents, suspended, might set free more of its wildness.

Landau’s prose can also lift off the page, as it does in a prolonged memory of Ava’s first childbirth and its aftermath. Here, Landau’s writing is intimate, tender and full of terror. The sentences breathe with the softness of shared human experience across time — absolutely sufficient to the moment, and to eternity, too.

THE MOTHER OF ALL THINGS | By Alexis Landau | Pantheon | 336 pp. | $29

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Volume 30, Number 6—June 2024

Research Letter

Novel avian influenza a(h5n6) in wild birds, south korea, 2023.

Suggested citation for this article

Infection caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) have caused major economic losses in the poultry industry and pose a serious threat to public health. The A/Goose/Guangdong/1/1996 (gs/GD) lineage of H5 HPAIV emerged in China in 1996 and diverged into 10 genetically independent hemagglutinin (HA) clades (0–9) and subclades ( 1 ). The gs/GD lineage of H5 HPAIV has caused outbreaks worldwide, infecting a range of wildlife, poultry, and humans ( 1 ). Clade 2.3.4.4 H5Nx HPAIV containing multiple neuraminidase (NA) subtypes ( 2 ) has dominated outbreaks worldwide from 2014 onwards and further divided into subclades 2.3.4.4a–h ( 3 ). Currently, clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 HPAIV is predominant globally after causing outbreaks in Europe in the fall of 2020 and in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Antarctica ( 4 – 7 ).

During October 2022–March 2023, a total of 16 different genotypes of H5N1 2.3.4.4b HPAIV caused outbreaks in South Korea, including 174 cases in wild birds ( 8 ). Based on the available surveillance data, no new virus incursions have occurred in South Korea during summer and fall 2023. National surveillance for HPAIV began in South Korea in the fall of 2023. We isolated 3 H5N6 HPAIVs from wild bird carcasses found in South Korea during December 2023 (A/Whooper Swan/Korea/23WC075/2023[H5N6], A/Whooper Swan/Korea/23WC116/2023[H5N6], and A/Bean goose/Korea/23WC111/2023[H5N6]) ( Appendix Table 1). We conducted next-generation sequencing of the isolates and shared complete genome sequences publicly. We conducted comparative phylogenetic analysis to infer the origin and evolution of the viruses.

All H5N6 isolates were identified as HPAIVs based on the presence of multiple basic amino acids at the HA proteolytic cleavage site (REKRRKR/GLF). BLAST inquiries of the GISAID database ( https://www.gisaid.org ) indicated all 8 genes shared the highest nucleotide sequence identity (99.77%–100%) with a clade 2.3.4.4b H5N6 virus identified from a peregrine falcon in 2023 in Japan (A/peregrine falcon/Saga/4112A002/2023[H5N6]), harboring the same genome constellation as the H5N6 viruses in South Korea ( Table ). The HA gene clustered with the major genotype a of the H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b HPAIV that circulated during 2022–2023 in South Korea ( 8 ). The NA gene of H5N6 virus clustered with H5N6 HPAIV from China, previously isolated in poultry and humans in 2018, but other internal genes were genetically distinct. Polymerase basic 1 and matrix protein genes also clustered with 2022–2023 H5N1 HPAIVs from South Korea. Polymerase basic 2, polymerase acidic, nucleoprotein, and nonstructural genes clustered with low-pathogenicity avian influenza viruses in Eurasia ( Appendix Figure 2).

Figure . Exploration of most common ancestors for novel reassortant highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N6) clade 2.3.4.4 b isolates recovered from wild birds, South Korea. A) Maximum clade credibility tree of viruses...

Estimated time to most recent common ancestor (tMRCA) of each gene of the H5N6 viruses and the A/peregrine falcon/Saga/4112A002/2023(H5N6) ranged from February through November 2023 ( Figure ; Appendix Table 2). On the basis of overlap between the 95% highest posterior density intervals of tMRCA, we assume the novel reassortant H5N6 viruses emerged around August–October 2023 and were introduced into Japan and South Korea. Maximum clade credibility tree of the NA gene revealed the wild bird H5N6 viruses from Japan and South Korea shared a common ancestor with the human infection case of H5N6 virus (A/Changsha/1/2022) from China. Since 2014, a total of 90 human cases of H5N6 infection have been reported in China;w most infections were reported after 2021 ( 9 ; https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/375483 ). The tMRCA of the wild bird H5N6 viruses from Japan and Korea and the human infection H5N6 virus from China is estimated to be June 12, 2022 (95% highest posterior density December 7, 2021–November 10, 2022) ( Figure ; Appendix Table 2). The ancestral H5N6 HPAIV circulating in China potentially donated the NA gene to the clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 virus in late 2022. The N6 gene of current and ancestral H5N6 HPAIV possessed a stalk deletion potentially acquired during the circulation of viruses in domestic poultry ( 10 ).

The H5N6 viruses possessed molecular markers T188, V210, Q222, and G224 in HA, which are associated with binding affinity to α-2,3 sialic acid receptors. We observed S133A and T156A mutations in HA, known to be associated with increased binding to α-2,6 sialic acid receptors. We observed L89V in polymerase basic 2, but not Q591K, E627K, and D701N. We also observed D622G in polymerase basic 1, N30D and I43M in muscarinic 1, and P42S in nonstructural protein 1, which are associated with increased virulence in mice ( 10 ).

Previous reports suggest the genomes of clade 2.3.4.4b are evolving through frequent genome reassortments, forming transient and diverse genome constellations change with no apparent pattern of gene segment association ( 8 ). Detection of H5N6 HPAIVs from wild birds in South Korea and Japan during the 2023–24 wintering season and our phylogenetic analysis suggest H5N6 HPAIVs most likely descended from clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 viruses circulating during 2022–2023, evolved from reassortment with other low-pathogenicity avian influenza viruses and HPAIVs, and were introduced into South Korea and Japan by wild birds during the fall migration season. Enhanced genomic surveillance of HPAIVs in wild birds is needed for early detection and monitoring of further evolution and spread of viruses.

Mr. Cho is a PhD candidate at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University. His research interests include molecular epidemiology and development of vaccines against avian diseases.

Acknowledgments

This research was financially supported by a grant from National Institute of Wildlife Disease Control and Prevention (NIWDC) (grant no. 2023-016) and the Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea.

The datasets in this study can be found in online repositories. The names of repositories and accession numbers are available through the GISAID ( https://www.gisaid.org ) EpiFlu database (accession nos. EPI2976997–EPI2977029).

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• Figure . Exploration of most common ancestors for novel reassortant highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N6) clade 2.3.4.4 b isolates recovered from wild birds, South Korea. A) Maximum clade credibility tree of...
• Table . Nucleotide sequence identities between gene segments of novel clade 2.3.4.4b highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N6) virus isolate A/Whooper_Swan/Korea/23WC075/2023 from South Korea and nearest top 3 homologs in the GISAID EpiFlu...

Suggested citation for this article : Cho AY, Si Y-J, Kim D-J, Seo Y-R, Lee D-Y, Kim D, et al. Novel avian influenza A(H5N6) in wild birds, South Korea, 2023. Emerg Infect Dis. 2024 June [ date cited ]. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3006.240192

DOI: 10.3201/eid3006.240192

Original Publication Date: May 03, 2024

1 These authors contributed equally to this article.

Table of Contents – Volume 30, Number 6—June 2024

Please use the form below to submit correspondence to the authors or contact them at the following address:

Dong-Hun Lee Wildlife Health Laboratory, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 05029, South Korea

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