Crime Up Front?

[Karen from AustCrime]

Do you prefer your crime fiction with a crime up front and an investigation / resolution.

Or do you prefer the style where there's a long lead up to a crime - optionally with minimal investigation, but an exploration of what led to the crime.

Any particular reason why or don't you care? (I've noticed I'm reading a lot of the second variety recently - don't know why - just the way the books fall I guess :) )

[Brian Kavanagh]

I don't have a preference. Sometimes a long lead up to the crime is essential to establish characters and what drives the crime. Other time a swift introduction is all that is required. Both work for me, but I have to say that with the long lead up version the characters and storytelling have to be strong enough to hold my attention and make me want to continue.
Cheers,
Brian

[Charles Kelly]

I fall into the long lead-up camp, as long as the lead-up isn't too long. I prefer hardboiled novels and writing that focuses on badly flawed people, which usually means the first part of the book deals with the people, rather than the crime. I used to like the crime-up-front stuff, such as police procedurals, but I've gotten away from that.

[Karen from AustCrime]

Charles - interesting that preference for flawed people, there's something in the revelations about people that really appeals in some books isn't there - that revelation of the human condition.

[Karen from AustCrime]

I agree with you on the strong storytelling Brian - I read Shame by Karin Alvtegen late last year and it was so involving and so fascinating I'd got right to the end before I realised there's no "crime" as such.

[Karen from AustCrime]

Bloodthirsty maybe :) Maybe it's also a desire for resolution - in most of the thriller types I've read recently the question of resolution's been a bit vaguer than in your classic police procedure.

Mind you, there's nothing wrong with a little righteous blood thirstiness - there are times when I crave victims who damn well deserved to be victims.

[Laura Root]

My preference varies with my mood. The long lead up type books can make a refreshing change, particularly if there is minimal violence/body count.