Crime Reads » Craft

William Boyd on the Allure of the Literary Spy Novel

William Boyd on the Allure of the Literary Spy Novel

"I feel that the world of espionage is actually the human condition writ large. We’ve all betrayed people. We've all lied to people."

By Kevin Canfield | December 9, 2024

Why Are There So Many Characters Named Hannah in Mystery Novels?

Why Are There So Many Characters Named Hannah in Mystery Novels?

Ginger Bolton considers the art of choosing a character's name

By Ginger Bolton | December 9, 2024

The End as the Beginning: Alex Segura on his Continuing Adventures in Comic Book Noir

The End as the Beginning: Alex Segura on his Continuing Adventures in Comic Book Noir

Segura's new book, 'Alter Ego', adds a new chapter to the story of the Legendary Lynx.

By John B. Valeri | December 5, 2024

Is Suspense the Enemy of Realism?

Is Suspense the Enemy of Realism?

"[T]he more success a writer enjoys in conjuring suspense...the less likely the story will exist in the realm of the real."

By John Brandon | December 5, 2024

Why I Killed Someone I Once Knew (In Fiction)

Why I Killed Someone I Once Knew (In Fiction)

Daniel Aleman on literary catharsis.

By Daniel Aleman | December 4, 2024

The Beat Goes On: Michael Connelly on Words, Writers & 'The Waiting'

The Beat Goes On: Michael Connelly on Words, Writers & 'The Waiting'

A new Ballard and Bosch novel examines L.A.'s most notorious unsolved murder: the Black Dahlia case.

By John B. Valeri | November 26, 2024

Best Reviewed
Books of the Week

True Crime Can Be a Dread Inspiration, Authors Agree

By Keith Roysdon | November 26, 2024

Digging Deep, Staying with It: James Sallis on Writing, Reality, and the Danger of Creative Work

By Nick Kolakowski | November 25, 2024

Maddie Day on Crafting Distinctive Settings for Cozy Mysteries

By Maddie Day | November 22, 2024

Researching the Historical Mystery Setting, or, The Importance of a Site Visit

Researching the Historical Mystery Setting, or, The Importance of a Site Visit

Exploring your setting IRL is the best way to get the details right—and the local experts on your side

By Clara McKenna | November 22, 2024

The Backlist: Megan Abbott on Noir, Fatalism, and Denis Johnson's 'Angels'

The Backlist: Megan Abbott on Noir, Fatalism, and Denis Johnson's 'Angels'

Megan Abbott and Polly Stewart revisit Johnson's bleak and wild portrait of humanity.

By Polly Stewart | November 21, 2024

Finding the Gothic in Arthurian Legends

Finding the Gothic in Arthurian Legends

Sarah Jost on castles, romance, and madness in medieval tales and modern gothics

By Sarah Jost | November 20, 2024

License to Thrill: The Real and the Unreal in Spy Fiction

License to Thrill: The Real and the Unreal in Spy Fiction

Michael Idov on the spy novelist's sleight of hand tricks.

By Michael Idov | November 19, 2024

From the Foreign Service to the World of Thrillers

From the Foreign Service to the World of Thrillers

Mel Harrison on mining his career in the diplomatic service for fiction.

By Mel Harrison | November 18, 2024

Can A Fictional Character Change Real World Perceptions?

Can A Fictional Character Change Real World Perceptions?

Robyn Gigl on Crafting Her Iconic Trans Heroine, and the Need to Humanize Trans People Via Fiction

By Robyn Gigl | November 8, 2024

Mothers Who Go to Extremes – And Drive the Action in Crime Fiction

Mothers Who Go to Extremes – And Drive the Action in Crime Fiction

Maria Kelson on the kinds of mothers who make for great mystery and thrillers.

By Maria Kelson | November 5, 2024

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