Murder and Mayhem @ Your Library:

Crime Fiction Readers’ Advisory

Presented for Innovation ExpertsSeptember 20,2011

1-4 pmBecky Siegel Spratford

bspratford@hotmail.comhttp://raforall.blogspot.com

Just the Facts

• “Crime is terribly revealing. Try and vary your methods as you will, your tastes, your habits, your attitude of mind, and your soul is revealed by your actions.” -- Agatha Christie

• “I think to be driven to want to kill must be such a terrible burden.” -- Ruth Rendell

The Line-Up

• 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

Just the Facts: RA Best Practices

• 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.

Collecting Clues: How Can I Read Everything?

• 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.

What is Crime Fiction?

• Definitions (from Trott’s 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

Crime Defined 2

• 1950s– Dashiell Hammett– Raymond Chandler– Mickey Spillane– Ross MacDonald

• Police Procdeural– Hilary Waugh– J.J. Marric– Ed McBain

Crime Define 3

• 1970s and 80s: Women and Minorities– Marcia Muller– Sue Grafton– Gar Anthony Haywood– Joseph Hansen and Richard Steveson– Sara Paretsky

Crime Defined 4

• Genres We Will Consider– Mystery– Suspense and Romantic Suspense– Thriller– Adventure– Psychological Suspense– Nonfiction: True Crime

• Formats: Audio and Graphic Novels• Further Crime Resources: Handout

Setting the Scene of the Crime

• 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

General Crime Fiction Appeal Continued

• 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 Saylor’s Gordianus the Finder) to the future (J.D. Robb’s Eve Dallas)

• Readers may crave a certain frame• The tone, style and language run the gamut• Series are a huge appeal factor

In the Box

• 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

Stop, You’re Killing Me!The Appeal of Mystery

• 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

Case Files: Mystery Subgenres

• Amateur detective (including but not limited to cozy)

• Classics• Historical• International• Police Procedural• Police Detective• Private Investigator• Humorous

Mystery Key Authors

• Michael Connelly• Diane Mott Davidson• Henning Mankell• Louise Penny• Jacqueline Winspear

Mystery: Other Authors to Know

• Nevada Barr• Janet Evanovich• Donna Leon• P.D. James• Anne Perry• Elizabeth Peters• Peter Robinson• C.J. Box

• Each Library will have specific authors who are locally popular

• And don’t forget “classic” (dead) authors. I have particular luck with:– Agatha Christie– Dashiell Hammett– Robert Parker– Rex Stout

Mystery Trends and Resources• 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

Suspense: Mystery’s Step-Sister

• 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

Suspense Subgenres

• Not really subgenres but nuances• Soft Suspense – Mary Higgins Clark• Harder-edged suspense – James Patterson,

Jeffrey Deaver, John Sandford• Romantic Suspense

Suspense Authors

Suspense• Lee Child• Harlan Coben• Lisa Gardner• Tess Gerritsen• Karin Slaughter

Romantic Suspense• Christine Feehan• Iris Johansen• Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda

Quick/Jayne Castle• J.D. Robb /Nora Roberts• Lauren Willig

Suspense: Other Authors to Know

• 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

(FBI Series)– Suzanne Brockman

Suspense Trends and Resources

• Stalking, Stalking, Stalking• More graphic and bloody• Lots of views into the “bad guy’s” 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

Thrillers Subgenres

• Legal Thriller• Medical/Forensic

Thriller• Techno Thriller• Espionage/Terrorism

Thriller• Crime/Caper Thriller

• Conspiracy Thriller• Financial/Corporate

Thriller• Bio/Eco Thriller• Political Thriller• Supernatural Thriller

Thrillers Authors

• David Baldacci• Linda A. Fairstein• Mira Grant• Carl Hiaasen• Daniel Silva

Thriller: Other Authors to Know• Robin Cook• John Grisham• John LeCarre• Alan Furst• Lisa Scottoline• Brad Meltzer• Jonathan Maberry (Joe Ledger Series)• Continued Series– Robert Ludlum– Ian Fleming

Thrillers Trends and Resources

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

Contemporary• Lots of Nonfiction Crossovers to think about• Resources: Handout

Adventure

• 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

Adventure Authors

• 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

Adventure Trends

• Thriller is slowly absorbing traditional adventure which is increasing its crossover appeal with crime fiction fans

• More women readers• True Adventure• Resources on Handout

Psychological Suspense

• 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

Psychological Suspense Authors

• Peter Abrahams• Carol Goodman• Jeff Lindsay• Chelsea Cain• Ruth Rendell• New Names To Watch:– Gillian Flynn– S.J. Watson

Psychological Suspense: More Authors

• 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 Dan

Chaon– A Simple Plan by Scott

Smith– The Little Stranger by

Sarah Waters

Psychological Suspense Tips &Trends

• 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

Nonfiction for Crime Fans

• 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 Blood by Capote started the narrative

nonfiction genre

True Crime Authors of Note

• Ann Rule• John Douglas• Diane Fanning• Joe McGinniss• Robert Graysmith• Vincent Bugliosi• James B. Stewart• James Swanson• Erik Larson

True Crime:Types, Trends, and Awards

• Types– Forensic, journalistic, bio/autobio, famous/infamous– FBI, police, reporters, lawyers, mafia…pov 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)

Audio and Graphic Novels

• Mystery and Suspense work well on audio– Tension builds slower– Can’t skip ahead as easily

• Patrons will cross genres more with audio• Some of the best readers ply trade here• Don’t forget that superheroes fight crime• Frank Miller and Alan Moore do more

sophisticated GNs for crime fans

The Holding Cell:Crime Fiction Collection Development

• Don’t 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

Bring Out Your Dead:Crime Fiction Marketing

– 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 You’re 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

Sure Bet Investigative Tales

• 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