By: John Glover (MBA)
Fall is officially here, and for crime junkies, it’s the perfect time for them to settle inside with a scary book or movie. Halloween is just around the corner, so getting into the spooky spirit is easy when reading about crime or the paranormal universe. Being a crime junky is not an uncommon characteristic, and because there are so many movies and books out there, it even has its own genre. There is so much to explore, and the unknown mystery of crime keeps readers on their toes, searching for answers.
In fact, there is a reason why so many people consider themselves crime junkies or are at least interested in works that dive deeper into these themes. Studies show that people are drawn to these types of books because they have the inherent need to figure things out for themselves. Researchers say that these topics have been around since our “hunter-gatherer” days, so it’s basically in our nature to seek these things out so we can better protect ourselves and those around us. Studies also show that women are more intrigued by the crime genre because they feel a greater need to protect themselves. There is a science behind why crime junkies exist and are thrilled by the unknown.
“More recently, I’ve been a viewer of various true crime TV shows. Since I’m an incredibly peaceful, non-violent man, my interest in these programs doesn’t remotely revolve around the brutality or the blood or the gore of those incidents. But rather, what intrigues me is always the ‘who done it?’ aspects of each crime. My daughter tells me I should have worked for the FBI, given my passion for trying to analyze the breadcrumbs of clues that each murderer leaves behind at his or her crime scene. It’s the solving of those puzzles that is alluring to me, not the violence,” says Dan Harary, author of “FIVE.”
Harary is a great example of how wide the crime genre really is. Authors can write their stories based on real-life experiences, or they can come up with a completely new concept. There are no rules when it comes to writing, and with the crime genre, the opportunities are endless. No matter what direction an author takes their story in, there will always be an unknown, and that’s what keeps readers interested. Whether it’s a murder mystery story or something that dives deeper into the paranormal, there is always something on the next page.
“In late 2023, while I was writing my new book FIVE: A NOVELLA, I fantasized ‘What IF?’ As in, ‘What IF, in one of my previous lives, I prowled around as a serial killer of women?’ Once I had that premise in my noggin, I came up with my lead character, Feival Vados, a famous actor in 1870s Hungary who was a murderer ‘after hours.’ But how to bring him into the modern age? That’s when I developed the accompanying idea of having Feival become reincarnated 100 years later into modern-day America,” says Harary.
There are no limits when it comes to creativity, and that’s what the crime genre is all about. Readers are drawn to it because they know there will most likely be answers by the last page. Not only do they get to read something that keeps them on the edge of their seat, but they can learn something and give them a sense of protection over their life and the lives of others. Crime stories can get people’s hearts racing, but that’s the lure of it all.
Readers can take a break from their busy schedules and dive into a different world. That’s’ what reading is all about. It’s a chance for people to learn something new while being entertained. As the fall season begins, what crime books are on your list?
Published by: Martin De Juan
