Suspense, thriller, crime, mystery, etc.…are by far some of my personal favorites. It’s a bit odd, considering my undying love for fantasy worlds. The thrill of entering a book where it is within the realm of possibility – however remote it may seem – and be scared out of your mind is remarkable! You get so caught up in trying to figure out who the bad guy is in thriller stories that you jump at the slightest bump in the night as your heart beats so wildly inside your chest that it feels as though it will escape through your throat. It is hard to describe how small and very human you feel when you delve into the minds of the characters within the pages of thriller books. Remarkable.
When you find an author that you connect to in this genre, it’s something that is difficult to put to words. Often, you find the same pattern being followed. There is a main female character who is being terrorized by the killer and then an alpha male detective who sweeps in and saves the day. Then you always have an emotional conflict between the two, so they realize that they have feelings for each other and act on those feelings. Then the woman usually stands her ground and is strong and brave which infuriates the male and they split off from an argument only to come back together and make up and the story ends happily.
I would like to say that I am not the biggest fan of romance, but honestly, it is rare to find a crime novel that doesn’t have an element of romance in it. Therefore, it is a bit like a double-edged sword. Saying that though, there are those authors out there that make the relationship and romance angle a side story, not the driving force of the plot. They are always a wonderful find because you get the chance to focus more on the thrill and fear that the book is expressing.
The Power of Fear
The thriller genre also allows you to explore some fear. Although, these fears can generally be more powerful than a mild concern. You get the chance to walk beside a character that makes a different choice than you have or might and it gives you insight into how they worked themselves through their problems. You actually get the chance to make mistakes in these books, because if they make a choice you think you would have and then the outcome is different than you anticipated, then you get to correct your thought process before something happens.
You can decide an escape plan that entails more than just screaming or going limp in the hopes that someone will hear you. You can change the course of their action in order to throw the tide in your favor if something were to ever happen. Or you can realize maybe what they did is something you should have done and will help others make more informed decisions. Keep in mind that each person is different, so maybe what works for you or the character in the book won’t work for those you care about. Be brave when you enter the worlds of thriller and crime because often, the result is not what you thought or wanted. Don’t fear every bump in the night, only fear the fear that encases your body, making you freeze when you should fight or run.
The Suspense/Thriller Stories Bookshelf
The Chain by Adrian McKinty – Curiosity
Endless Evil by Amanda Feyerbend – Curiosity
See You Soon by NC Marshall – Curiosity
Tuesday’s Child by Dale Mayer – Curiosity
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