I once had a publisher turn down my book because it was too squeamish. The editor loved the story but had a hard time with the pedophilia subplot. The belief was readers would find it too “icky” and wouldn’t want to read it. That made me ponder—are there books which take storylines too far? I wouldn’t have thought diehard thriller readers had a line, but then I started asking questions, and looking at thrillers with a bit of side-eye. Did the line exist? And if so, where was it crossed?
Thriller readers, especially the ultra-enthusiasts, have strong constitutions. Which is what probably drives writers to push the limits on gruesome murders and the disturbed individuals who commit them. To find that gasp-worthy reaction of the reader who then gets on social media to share the grisly review (hopefully without spoilers) to all their friends, family, and followers. I decided to go through my list of books, and ask some readers, what were some books which pushed the realms of acceptable thriller storylines. Here’s what I found:
You by Caroline Kepnes.
The story of an aspiring writer who catches the eye of a bookseller who just seems to get her. Of course, he knows her so well because he is a very adept stalker-turned-boyfriend who almost seems torn by the way he “removes” obstacles that pop up which derail his burgeoning love affair. How is this book squeamish worthy? It’s told from the stalker/serial killer’s point of view. And to top it off, Joe is a somewhat likeable character—crazy as a loon, and his reasoning is as alarming as it is (almost) endearing. We’ve become accustomed, as readers, to serial killers being enough off—dropping enough clues—to immediately be recognizable as the murderer. But Joe is the unassuming guy next door who just happens to enjoy slicing and dicing his romantic rivals.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Stieg Larsson pulls out all the stops in this mystery of a family with dark secrets which are about to be pulled into the light by Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander. The “ick” factor is a family legacy of molestation, abuse, and murder passed from father to son. But Larsson doesn’t stop there. Lisbeth comes with her own disturbing story of sexual assault and brutal retaliation. Gut-wrenching to the point of wanting to puke at the visuals it invokes, definitely pushes this book over the squeamish line.
Brother by Ania Ahlborn
What could be better—and more troubling—than a serial killer on the loose in the Appalachians? A family of serial killers on the loose in the Appalachians. Taking full advantage of the property where they live and the rugged landscape, the Morrow family has its own version of the killing fields. And the writer does not hold back on the blood, guts, and gore of this family’s favorite pastime.
Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter
Even the heartiest KS fans (of which I am one) were somewhat uncomfortable with this book. From almost the first page there is a crime scene that sets the stage for this story—blood. Lots and lots of blood. And no shortage of gore as two sisters try to reconcile the disappearance of their sister when they were teenagers, and the murder of the husband of one sister. This book has a little of almost everything that makes the reader uncomfortable. Best not to start this book after eating a large meal.
The Perfect Nanny by Leila Slimani
The author basically gives you no lead in when the worst you can imagine happens—the nanny murders the children in her charge. Do I even need to go on? Everyone who has or had children, or grandchildren, or knows children, or has seen a child at any time in their lives will be taken aback with the brutality of this scene. What may be even more squeamish is the matter-of-fact voice of the narrator. Make sure you are up for this gruesome story before you start. The hook may be your undoing.
Birdman by Mo Hayder
British crime thriller lovers will love this book! And it will test the American reader on how much they actually know about British slang. What places it on this list of squeamish reads? Hayder’s refusal to water down the violence and brutality of the unfortunate victims of a serial killer running amuck in London. The Detective Inspector is not a particularly loveable character, either, with his own demons and destructive habits, but the reader will end up rooting for him in the end. I don’t typically like trigger warnings—except for one: this book does have some animal cruelty in it. So, if that bothers you, I’d skip this read.
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So, the answer to where the line is crossed is easy, if not a bit cliché.
It depends. Only the individual can decide what is too much.
The hardest part of writing thrillers, in my opinion, is trying to get the right balance between writing the “ick” and being true to the realities of this world and turning readers off to the point they never want to read another book from the author. No book will be loved by everyone. That is a known fact because readers are different, and everyone has things they like, and don’t like, to read. Could be subject matter that is taboo—one reader will wrap themselves in the naughtiness while others would just as soon not know the intricacies of things which happen behind the proverbial closed door.
Which brings us to my debut thriller, The Wrong Woman. Yes, there is pedophilia. Did I need to add this particular subplot to the book? No. Did I want to add something which straddled the “line” discussed above? Maybe, but I don’t think I intentionally sought out using subject matter which would make the reader squeamish. In my research, and in talking to FBI agents who work in the crimes against children division, I was astounded by what these men and women do on a daily basis. How they cope with such depravity and still function in society. So, in a way, this is my hat tip to them. And for that, I make no apology.
There is also a serial killer in this book who likes to torture his victims with a not-well-known form of sexual gratification via unconventional (and painful) means. Now, this part I will admit to wanting to push the envelope and make the reader shift in their seat, a shiver up the spine, and maybe a bit of a foul taste in their mouths. It’s awkward to read, and uncomfortable to consider what the victims are being put through.
But, really, it’s probably child’s play compared to the above novels. 😉
