When life gets scary, turn to murder…
My husband can't understand it. I loathe horror movies and as soon as a show gets too dark (yes, Black Mirror, I'm talking about you), I'm out.
"But you spend your entire life killing people," he says, watching me scuttle off to bed with my book. And he's not wrong. I am a crime writer. Guilty as charged. I have 23 books of my own, not to mention a gazillion short stories published over the years, all of which involve killing people. Lots and lots of dead people.
But that's not the point of them, not at all, and if you've ever read my stuff or are an avid crime reader like me, you get it, too.
Murder Makes Sense
The wonderful thing about crime fiction, or at least crime fiction I enjoy, is that it is resolved. Always! Sure, some poor sod has to cark it, but I don't dwell on that, and don't read books that do. While I have great sympathy for my victims, I'm not interested in their murders per se, certainly not in the gruesome details. I'm interested in catching their killers—in finding them justice and resolution. That's the uplifting bit.
And THAT'S why I believe crime sells so well during times of darkness or stress.
Take COVID for instance. I sold three times as many books in 2020 than I normally do. And I have noticed, lately, that my sales are on the rise. While I don't want to get into politics, I have a few ideas why…
As life becomes topsy-turvy and unpredictable, even a little scary/nasty/WTF!, many readers look for books that make sense of darkness, that show the baddies getting it in the end. The good guy always comes out on top.
Perhaps it's the sense of control, we like, because we know that in real life this isn't always the case. Sadly. Or perhaps it's pure escapism—a chance to forget what's going on out there and lose ourselves inside a gripping story. Or maybe it's because if you read something ever darker than reality, you can tell yourself life's not so bad after all. At least you haven't been prematurely bopped over the head!
What do you think? Tell me & win!
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. Do you reach for crime when life feels criminally out of control? Or is it the last thing you want? And if so, why?
If you email me in the next two weeks, I'll pop you in the drawer to win a $10 Amazon gift voucher. That way you could gift yourself any kind of book that makes YOU feel better.
Until then, if real-world troubles are troubling you, take my advice and hide away in a good murder mystery, especially a "cozy" one like mine (see links here). You'll feel better in the time it takes to catch the killer.
Happy reading everyone.
xo Christina