BLOGS
Cozy Mysteries: The Gentlest Type of Crime Fiction
In cozy mysteries (or "cozies"), profanity, sex, and graphic violence do not exist in the story. If the narrative does demand these elements, they mostly are implied and happen off the page. These types of stories offer readers the same amount of danger and suspense...
What is the Closed Circle of Suspects? Definition and Examples
The closed circle of suspects is a simple plot element in detective fiction, especially in whodunits. When a crime is committed, a limited amount of suspects are quickly identified, each with their own motives, means, and opportunities. It is then up to the detective...
Red Herrings: Definition, Origin, and Examples
While reading a book or watching a movie, you've probably come across some detail of the story that made you so sure what the outcome would be. But when you reached the end, your theory turned out to be wrong. The guy you thought guilty is actually innocent, and the...
10 Best Escape Movies About Breaking Free From Captivity
The idea of a character's confinement and eventual escape has been the subject of many stories throughout film history. Whether its breaking out of prison or fleeing a deranged criminal's maze of horrors, the concept of freedom against all odds is just too tantalizing...
12 Books about Revenge to Sate Your Hunger for Justice
In our day-to-day lives, most of us probably try to take the high road when confronted with difficult situations, but that doesn't mean we don't enjoy the concept of revenge. It's why stories about retribution remain popular throughout the ages. In these stories, a...
The Whodunit: Stories to Satisfy Your Inner Detective
We are currently in a period of film and literary entertainment where mystery fiction reigns as royalty. From short stories to novels and podcasts to movies, it's hard not to find stories that keep you guessing until the very last minute. One of the longest-running...
The Howcatchem: An Inverted Detective Story
A scream is heard in the dead of the night and everyone rushes to where it came from. The bleeding body of the victim is discovered, along with the murder weapon. No one knows who did it—no one but you, that is. After all, you watched them imagine, plan, and...
15 of the Best Paranormal Thrillers to Keep You Up All Night
There are books that read like thrillers but feel like speculative fiction. While there's an emphasis on uncovering secrets, elements of the paranormal also make themselves known. These stories are called paranormal thrillers, combining the best of both worlds between...
Nordic Noir: Definition, Characteristics, and Examples
Nordic Noir is a subgenre of crime fiction that has been steadily gaining attention over the years. In its broadest sense, it's a type of noir (characterized by cynicism and moral ambiguity), written from a police perspective and set in a Nordic country. But within...
12 of the Best David Baldacci Books to Read Now
David Baldacci is one of today's best-known names when it comes to thriller fiction, having sold more than 150 million copies worldwide. Since his debut in 1996, he's penned more than 40 best-selling books, some of which were adapted for film and television. Having...
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