Crime Fiction Presentation

7/29/2019 Crime Fiction Presentation

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Presented for Innovation Experts

September 20,2011

1-4 pm

Becky Siegel Spratford

[email protected]

http://raforall.blogspot.com


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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 yoursoul is revealed by your actions. -- Agatha Christie

I think to be driven to want to kill must be such a terrible

burden. -- Ruth Rendell


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Intro to RA Principles and Practices

What is Crime Fiction? Appeal and RA Interview Tips

Genre, Subgenre and Format Distinctions

Whole Collection RA

Key Authors, Resources, and Trends

Collection Development

Marketing Tips for Crime Fiction

Lists and Display Ideas


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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.


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You cannot read everything!

Speed Reading by Georgine Olson but available in this book.

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.


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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


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1950s

Dashiell Hammett Raymond Chandler

Mickey Spillane

Ross MacDonald

Police Procdeural Hilary Waugh

J.J. Marric

Ed McBain


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1970s and 80s: Women and Minorities

Marcia Muller Sue Grafton

Gar Anthony Haywood

Joseph Hansen and Richard Steveson

Sara Paretsky


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The Appeal of Crime Fiction (Generalizations)

Fast paced and engrossing often because of the compressed time frame Identification with the investigator, but other characters can range from

stereotypical to eccentric and unique; series characters also common

Often multiple points of view with the hero and villain

Investigative elements are key


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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


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The RA Conversation for Crime Fiction Readers

Type of investigator Subgenre considerations

Historical (time and place) and Cozy are big

Level of violence

Tone, style, language, frame Character vs. plot

TV or Movie comparisons

Fiction vs. Nonfiction

Format preferences


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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


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Amateur detective (including but not limited to cozy)

Classics Historical

International

Police Procedural Police Detective

Private Investigator

Humorous


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Michael Connelly

Diane Mott Davidson Henning Mankell

Louise Penny

Jacqueline Winspear


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Nevada Barr

Janet Evanovich Donna Leon

P.D. James Anne Perry

Elizabeth Peters

Peter Robinson C.J. Box

Each Library will havespecific authors who are

locally popular And dont forget classic

(dead) authors. I have

particular luck with: Agatha Christie

Dashiell Hammett

Robert Parker

Rex Stout


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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


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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


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Not really subgenres but nuances

Soft Suspense Mary Higgins Clark Harder-edged suspense James Patterson, Jeffrey Deaver,

John Sandford

Romantic Suspense


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Suspense

Lee Child Harlan Coben

Lisa Gardner

Tess Gerritsen Karin Slaughter

Romantic Suspense

Christine Feehan Iris Johansen

Jayne Ann Krentz/AmandaQuick/Jayne Castle

J.D. Robb /Nora Roberts

Lauren Willig


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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 (FBISeries)

Suzanne Brockman


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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


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Legal Thriller

Medical/Forensic Thriller Techno Thriller

Espionage/Terrorism

Thriller

Crime/Caper Thriller

Conspiracy Thriller

Financial/CorporateThriller

Bio/Eco Thriller

Political Thriller

Supernatural Thriller


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David Baldacci

Linda A. Fairstein

Mira Grant

Carl Hiaasen

Daniel Silva


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Robin Cook

John Grisham John LeCarre

Alan Furst

Lisa Scottoline Brad Meltzer

Jonathan Maberry (Joe Ledger Series)

Continued Series Robert Ludlum

Ian Fleming


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Terrorism

TV shows (All of those legal dramas) Ancient Conspiracies catching up to Contemporary

Lots of Nonfiction Crossovers to think about

Resources: Handout


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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


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Adventure authors who may appeal to Crime Fiction readers:

Dan Brown

Clive Cussler

Jack DuBrul

WEB Griffin (now with son)

Jack Higgins

Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Matthew Reilly

James Rollins


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Thriller is slowly absorbing traditional adventure which is

increasing its crossover appeal with crime fiction fans

More women readers

True Adventure

Resources on Handout


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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


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Peter Abrahams

Carol Goodman Jeff Lindsay

Chelsea Cain

Ruth Rendell New Names To Watch:

Gillian Flynn

S.J. Watson


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Alfred Hitchcock

Thomas H. Cook Frances Fyfield

Patricia Highsmith Dean Koontz

Thomas Harris

Val McDermid

Minette Walters Single titles of note:

Full Dark, No Stars by

Stephen King Await Your Reply by DanChaon

A Simple Plan by ScottSmith

The Little Stranger bySarah Waters


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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


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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 Bloodby Capote started the narrative nonfiction genre


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Ann Rule

John Douglas Diane Fanning

Joe McGinniss

Robert Graysmith Vincent Bugliosi

James B. Stewart

James Swanson Erik Larson


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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

Awards and Resources: Handout

Edgar and Dagger for True Crime (see Mystery)


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Mystery and Suspense work well on audio

Tension builds slower

Cant skip ahead as easily

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


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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


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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


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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

Crime Fiction Presentation

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