I Think We Are Psychopaths!

John G. Cawelti, a prominent cultural theorist, offers insightful explanations on why readers are drawn to crime and thriller novels. In his seminal work *Adventure, Mystery, and Romance: Formula Stories as Art and Popular Culture* (1976), Cawelti explores the appeal of genre fiction, including crime and thriller stories, by analysing the patterns and structures that make these narratives compelling to readers.

Order and Disruption
Cawelti argues that crime and thriller novels revolve around the theme of order and disruption. These stories typically begin with the disruption of social order through a crime or a threat, which creates a sense of tension and conflict. Readers are drawn to the narrative as it promises the eventual restoration of order. The process of uncovering the truth, solving the mystery, or defeating the villain satisfies a deep psychological need for resolution and justice. This journey from chaos to order offers readers a reassuring sense of stability, even if temporarily.

Moral Exploration
According to Cawelti, crime and thriller novels provide a platform for exploring moral and ethical questions. These stories often present complex dilemmas where characters must navigate the boundaries between good and evil, right and wrong. Readers are engaged by the way these narratives test societal values and individual morality. The genre allows readers to safely explore the darker aspects of human nature and societal norms, ultimately reinforcing or questioning the ethical codes that govern behaviour.

Psychological Catharsis
Cawelti also emphasizes the role of crime and thriller novels in providing psychological catharsis. These stories evoke intense emotions such as fear, suspense, and anxiety, allowing readers to experience these feelings vicariously in a controlled environment. The eventual resolution of the plot—where the crime is solved, the villain is caught, or the hero prevails—offers a release of built-up tension, leading to an emotional catharsis. This cathartic experience is a key reason why readers return to these genres, as it provides a satisfying emotional journey.

Engagement with Social Issues
Cawelti highlights that crime and thriller novels often serve as a reflection of contemporary social issues. By embedding real-world anxieties and societal concerns within their plots, these genres allow readers to engage with current events and cultural fears in an indirect yet impactful way. Whether it's crime stories that address corruption, inequality, or the failures of the justice system, or thrillers that tap into fears about technology, terrorism, or environmental disasters, these novels resonate with readers by addressing the challenges of their time.

Escapism and Entertainment
Finally, Cawelti acknowledges the escapist function of crime and thriller novels. These genres provide a form of entertainment that allows readers to temporarily escape from the stresses and monotony of daily life. The fast-paced, suspenseful plots, along with the engaging puzzles and action-packed sequences, offer a thrilling break from reality. For many readers, the excitement and adrenaline of these stories provide a welcome diversion, making them an enduringly popular form of fiction.

 

So, John Cawelti’s analysis of crime and thriller novels reveals that their appeal lies in a combination of psychological, moral, and social factors. These genres provide readers with a structured narrative journey from chaos to order, offer a space to explore moral and ethical questions, deliver emotional catharsis, engage with contemporary social issues, and offer escapist entertainment. All well and good and very admirable … but raises a question for me.  Why when cosy crime also meets these criteria and satisfies these needs, do most of our customers prefer the dark blood and guts type of crime thriller than the lovely, warm reassurance of Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club or M.C. Beeton’s Agatha Raisin series?

I am all for choice and variety, but I think we need to give our cortisol levels a bit of a rest and indulge in some relaxing, clean murder, which is all solved in time for tea! For those of you for whom murder is still a dark and serious business, here is a brief outline of the differences in subgenre, which might lull you into giving your heartrate a break and also a few of the titles that I could read before bed without needing to leave the light on all night!!

 

Tone and Atmosphere
Generally darker and more intense, crime fiction often deals with serious themes such as violence, corruption, and the moral ambiguities of human nature. The atmosphere can be gritty, suspenseful, and sometimes disturbing, with a focus on the psychological aspects of crime; in contrast, cosy by name is cosy by nature! It is crime is light-hearted and less intense. The atmosphere is often quaint and charming, typically set in small towns or close-knit communities, with a generally upbeat tone, even when dealing with murder, and an emphasis on the puzzle-solving aspect of the mystery rather than brutality of the crime.

 

Content and Violence
Crime fiction includes graphic depictions of violence, murder, and other criminal activities with these crimes being central to the plot, although the narrative may explore their impact on the victims, the perpetrators, and society at large; whereas cosy crime avoids explicit violence, gore, and disturbing content. Murders do occur (often off-page), the details are not graphically depicted, and the focus is on the investigation, with the emphasis on solving the mystery rather than on the crime itself.

 

Characters
In ‘proper’ crime the protagonists are frequently professional detectives, police officers, private investigators, or even anti-heroes with complex backgrounds; they have dark pasts or personal struggles that add depth to their character arcs. In CC, the investigators are generally amateurs, such as librarians, bakers, or retirees, who stumble upon a mystery and decide to solve it, through a sense of nosiness, curiosity, sense of duty or fairness. They are likable, relatable, sometimes comedic and embedded in their communities.

 

Setting
Crime Fiction can be set anywhere, from urban environments to rural settings, but location plays a significant role in creating a specific atmosphere, either dark, gritty and realistic or paradise and innocence lost as a beautiful setting is contaminated by a heinous crime. This is opposed to the small towns, villages, or other idyllic environments favoured by CC writers, where the setting is a key element, and the story relies on a close-knit community, where everyone knows each other.

Narrative Style
In crime fiction, the narratives can be complex, with multiple plot twists, deep psychological explorations, and sometimes a focus on the procedural aspects of crime-solving; the writing reflects the seriousness and grittiness of the subject matter. This is where CC comes into its own, the writing is often lighter, with humour and wit used to offset the darker aspects of the plot and a focus on the mystery itself rather than on complex subplots or intense character studies – if you like crime, but need your mood lifted and to sleep that night, this is the how!

 

So with all that in mind, and because I wrote a huge long blog last time with lots of amazing, dark, Irish crime and thriller writers, here are a few authors that might rise your spirits and give you a laugh, as well as challenging you to work out ‘who dunnit?’!

 

Agatha Christie
Often dubbed the "Queen of Mystery," Agatha Christie is one of the most famous and prolific authors of all time. She created iconic characters like Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, who solve murders in genteel English settings. Her works are known for their intricate plots, red herrings, and surprising twists, all whilst maintaining a light, accessible tone.

Good ones to start with: Murder on the Orient Express, The Murder at the Vicarage and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.

 

Richard Osman
If Aggie is the Queen, Richard is fast becoming the King, based on number of sales alone! Before venturing into writing, Richard Osman was well-known as a television personality, particularly as co-host of the popular quiz show Pointless. His transition into crime writing has been marked by his signature wit and humour.

The Thursday Murder Club, his debut novel is set in a peaceful retirement village where four elderly residents, meet weekly to discuss unsolved crimes and find themselves investigating a real murder. Clever plot, humorous dialogue, warm, engaging personalities and some heartwarming moments, make it a quintessential cosy crime story … plus Elizabeth is seriously bad ass and is going to be played by Helen Mirren on the screen! His other books with these characters are The Bullet That Missed, The Man Who Died Twice and The Last Devil to Die, plus he has a new novel introducing new characters called We Solve Murders, which is available to preorder – I’ve already read this and it was sooo good!

 

M.C. Beaton
M.C. Beaton, is the pen name of Marion Chesney, and is best known for her Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth series. She also wrote masses of sort of parodies or pastiches of regency romances which are so sharp and sarcastic they make me laugh! She is an expert in changing the channel and giving your brain a mental break. These mysteries feature amateur sleuths (although Hamish is an actual police officer and very shrewd), in small, quirky villages. Her humour can be cutting, but not cruel.

Ones to look out for: Agatha Raisin and the Dead Ringer,  Agatha Raisin Hot to Trot and Hamish Macbeth, Death of a Gossip.

 

Alexander McCall Smith
A prolific author, McCall Smith is best known for The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, set in Botswana. The series features Mma Precious Ramotswe, the first female private detective in the country, who solves cases with wisdom, kindness, and a deep understanding of human nature and vivid portrayal of African life.

You can jump in anywhere with The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, but I particularly liked Tears of the Giraffe.

 

Rhys Bowen
Rhys Bowen is the author of multiple cosy mystery series, including the ‘Royal Spyness’ series, which follows Lady Georgiana Rannoch, a minor royal in 1930s England who finds herself embroiled in various mysteries. He also has an Irish heroine in Molly Murphy who I am very fond of! Bowen's books are known for their historical settings, witty dialogue, and blend of mystery with light-hearted adventure.

Her Royal Spyness – The Last Mrs Summers is great as is the Molly Murphy Sullivan Away in a Manager.

 

Louise Penny
I must admit I haven’t read Louise Penny ‘Chief Inspector Armand Gamache’ series, set in the fictional village of Three Pines in Quebec, Canada, but I have watched the tv series! Penny's work is much darker, but it is still characterised by its focus on community, character development, and the solving of crimes in a close-knit, picturesque setting … so if you need to bridge the gap back into the darkness or walk gently into the light, this might be a perfect author for you to get stuck into!