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Crime is terribly revealing. Try and vary your methods as you will, your tastes, your habits, your attitude of mind, and your soul is revealed by your actions. -- Agatha Christie I think to be driven to want to kill must be such a terrible burden. -- Ruth Rendell
This class assumes an understanding of appeal factors and basic RA interviewing skills. Vocabulary of Appeal Match books by appeal and not plot Understand your own reader profile Understand genre classification
Genres are not separated by walls.
Read in varied genres; look for connections Genre a Day Reviews for appeal Magazines, newspapers and other popular media. Read what your patrons are reading.
Definitions (from Trotts Read On Crime Fiction; see handout) Classic Authors mentioned
Edgar Allen Poe Sir Arthur Conan Doyle G. K. Chesterton Agatha Christie Dorothy Sayers Ellery Queen
1950s
Dashiell Hammett Raymond Chandler Mickey Spillane Ross MacDonald
Police Procdeural
Hilary Waugh J.J. Marric Ed McBain
Plots can range from story centered to character centered, but all require plot twists and a resolved if not closed ending Can contain violence and strong language, but there have never been more cozy options. The setting can range from ancient times (Steven Saylors Gordianus the Finder) to the future (J.D. Robbs Eve Dallas) Readers may crave a certain frame The tone, style and language run the gamut Series are a huge appeal factor
Puzzles with clues provided Crime, generally murder, solved by investigator Battle of wits (investigator v. villain; investigator v. reader) Good v. evil Series characters Stories are intricately plotted Full spectrum of pacing Resolved, if not always closed, ending Judge a book by its cover
Amateur detective (including but not limited to cozy) Classics Historical International Police Procedural Police Detective Private Investigator Humorous
Michael Connelly Diane Mott Davidson Henning Mankell Louise Penny Jacqueline Winspear
Nevada Barr Janet Evanovich Donna Leon P.D. James Anne Perry Elizabeth Peters Peter Robinson C.J. Box
Each Library will have specific authors who are locally popular And dont forget classic (dead) authors. I have particular luck with:
Agatha Christie Dashiell Hammett Robert Parker Rex Stout
Special Interests More development of the main character Cozy and Humorous Mysteries are huge
Intelligent Cozies new sub-sub genre? Not much actual mystery
Historical
Especially WWI to 1960
Blurring between suspense and mystery within novels and authors writing both Paranormal Resources: Handout
A plot in which tension builds; menacing atmosphere permeates throughout (prologue) Multiple points of view: hero and villain Compressed time frame Protagonist in peril Twists Fast paced, resourceful heroes Good v. evil Closed happy ending
Not really subgenres but nuances Soft Suspense Mary Higgins Clark Harder-edged suspense James Patterson, Jeffrey Deaver, John Sandford Romantic Suspense
Suspense
Lee Child Harlan Coben Lisa Gardner Tess Gerritsen Karin Slaughter
Romantic Suspense
Christine Feehan Iris Johansen Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick/Jayne Castle J.D. Robb /Nora Roberts Lauren Willig
Suspense
Names 2 slides ago Tami Hoag Julie Garwood Erica Spindler Tana French Kate Atkinson Stieg Larsson John Hart
Romantic Suspense
Sandra Brown Linda Howard Karen Robards Catherine Coulter (FBI Series) Suzanne Brockman
Stalking, Stalking, Stalking More graphic and bloody Lots of views into the bad guys mind Used to only be stand alone; now lots of series. Supernatural and Literary options on the rise More investigative; blurring into Mystery Established Romantic Suspense moving to Suspense while new Rom. Suspense coming from Romance Resources: Handout
Legal Thriller Medical/Forensic Thriller Techno Thriller Espionage/Terrorism Thriller Crime/Caper Thriller
Conspiracy Thriller Financial/Corporate Thriller Bio/Eco Thriller Political Thriller Supernatural Thriller
David Baldacci Linda A. Fairstein Mira Grant Carl Hiaasen Daniel Silva
Robin Cook John Grisham John LeCarre Alan Furst Lisa Scottoline Brad Meltzer Jonathan Maberry (Joe Ledger Series) Continued Series
Robert Ludlum Ian Fleming
Terrorism TV shows (All of those legal dramas) Ancient Conspiracies catching up to Contemporary Lots of Nonfiction Crossovers to think about Resources: Handout
Traditional Adventure will not be as appealing to your Mystery readers, but genre is changing What you need to look for
Adventure can be more over the top than other genres solves crime and saves world Exotic locales or military settings Not much characterization; fast paced and action oriented with a happy ending Clues not always there; outrageous solutions Sea-faring adventure does not fit Crime appeals
Thriller is slowly absorbing traditional adventure which is increasing its crossover appeal with crime fiction fans More women readers True Adventure Resources on Handout
A mix of Mystery, Thriller, and Horror Tension derived from mental fears Produce a chill and play with our minds Claustrophobic worlds; unease Literary style; lots of twists Character and mood at forefront Endings unresolved and could be unhappy
Peter Abrahams Carol Goodman Jeff Lindsay Chelsea Cain Ruth Rendell New Names To Watch:
Gillian Flynn S.J. Watson
Alfred Hitchcock Thomas H. Cook Frances Fyfield Patricia Highsmith Dean Koontz Thomas Harris
Used to be only standalone; now lots of series More twisted and violent Hero is not all good like in suspense; has dark issues Many traditional mystery writers and literary fiction authors are exploring this genre Do natural language searches to find titles Some sources classify it as psychological horror Specific resources are limited: Handout
True Crime
May be more appealing to some fans-- Truth Killer caught and brought to justice Date quickly No detail spared Safe exploration of dark side of humanity Readalikes for authors and specific titles In Cold Blood by Capote started the narrative nonfiction genre
Ann Rule John Douglas Diane Fanning Joe McGinniss Robert Graysmith Vincent Bugliosi James B. Stewart James Swanson Erik Larson
Types
Forensic, journalistic, bio/autobio, famous/infamous FBI, police, reporters, lawyers, mafiapov is wide Appeal: old books as good as new ones, maybe better
Trends
Whole Collection RA Readalikes for titles and authors Compilations
Patrons will cross genres more with audio Some of the best readers ply trade here Dont forget that superheroes fight crime Frank Miller and Alan Moore do more sophisticated GNs for crime fans
Dont forget: this is a part of Customer Service Take pulse of your collection at least once a year
What are your most popular titles/authors? Where are you lacking? Who is winning the awards? What are the trends?
Keep shelves neat and clean Replace classic and popular titles Weed
Merging Crime Collections More space Patron displeasure/education Clearer catalog records and stickering Display Ideas Overlooked stars (Use Overbooked) Show off new popular subgenres (Use Stop Youre Killing Me) Crime stories not from the mystery section Sure bets (by title or author) Use face out options whenever available Post series lists for most popular authors Consider special paperback shelving, not just spinners
Erik Larson Devil in the White City Ann Rule The Stranger Beside Me Harlen Coben Tell No One Michael Connelly The Black Echo Ruth Rendell 13 Steps Down Mary Higgins Clark On the Street Where You Live P.D. James A Taste for Death Diane Mott Davidson Dying for Chocolate Nevada Barr Choose by location preference Louise Penny Still Life