True Crime vs. Crime Fiction

[Cynthia Polansky]

As a fan of true crime, I can't help but wonder what other readers think of this genre. I do read some mystery and suspense, but I find that I am more intrigued by the personal aspect of the books written about real people. I've heard some say it is human nature to be morbidly interested, but I find it interesting to try and inderstand what makes people do evil things.

In crime fiction, the motivation is written right into the story and eliminates most of the guess work?

What do you think?

[Cynthia Polansky]

I think that when you consider the facts vs. what people make up, you can't help but wonder where the fiction comes from. Not say we are all psychotics or sociopaths, but I think that in a lot of instances, fiction is the product of society. There is so much violence and turmoil in our everyday lives that it feeds our imaginations.

It seems to go in phases. The war has sprouted an whole new group of writers. I see tons of authors of Middle Eastern descent who are writing fiction. Not so much fiction about war, but often fiction about survival.

Crime works much the same way. There are tons of books out there now that are based on war and espionage, the genre seems to go in cycles, depending on how society is reacting to recent events.

[Dave Bara]

I find true crime too disturbing most of the time. Then again I come from the region that sprouted Ted Bundy and the Green River Killer.

[Steven Torres]

I've only ever read Jim Doherty's "Just the Facts." Liked it a geat deal, but then it deals with short true crime stories. Not sure I could get through a full length book on one crime, but I might have gone for OJ's book. Insider info is hard to come by...

[Barbara Fister]

Right now I'm reading Sister Helen Prejean's The Death of Innocents, which is about as close as I've ever come to reading "true crime" other than reading the newspaper. The entertainment factor in true crime makes me very uncomfortable, knowing those are real people. When I want to read true stuff about what makes people tick, I read psychology research or law review articles. Those are about real people, too, but they aren't entertaining. Does that let me off the hook?

[Karen from AustCrime]

I'll read the occasional True Crime story - but only if it's something local as mostly I'm interested in the story behind the headlines in those examples. There is something vaguely discomforting about these books sometimes - possibly because you know that they are real.

If you want to read about the insane side of true crime then the books by John Silvester and Andrew Rule about the various crazy goings-on in the "Melbourne Underworld" are mandatory reading - very tongue in cheek - not good if you think that most criminals are masterminds :)