Most of the novels follow an investigator as he or she delves deeper into the case. Some stories are told from the point of view of the culprit. If you’re someone who wants to come up with your own crime novel, these tips might help:

1. Read the famous books in the genre

Develop your skills in writing crime novels by reading some popular books in the genre. You must try reading as many of these books as you can. As you read, notice how each of these books use plot twists, point of views, and characters. 

You can also make a note of the cliffhangers or cliches used in the books. As compared to the other genres, crime fiction often follows a formula. It would be helpful to know what has been used before. This can help you decide the best path forward.

2. Write something that excites you

The old phrase ‘write what you know is often used with regards to novels. It doesn’t usually apply in crime fiction. Of course, a detailed study of the best-sellers in crime novels would provide some useful insights. It always helps to know what other crime fiction writers are or are not doing. 

This genre is driven by the ability of the writer to unfold mysteries. The author must also make the reader feel the thrill of the chase. If you’re excited to race towards the big revelation, your readers will also feel the same. It is, therefore, important to write something that truly excites you.

3. Do some serious research

You must begin with the assumption that your readers know what makes for a good crime novel. They might be already familiar with the police, detectives, and crime scenes. If forensics, serial killer profiling, or hacking is important to your crime novel, you need good research. Be careful not to fill the book with technical information.

4. Create a good outline for the story

Form an excellent outline for the story. Begin with the crime, as it is an important part of the entire story. Make the characters seem more realistic by highlighting their imperfections or revealing conflicting motives. A crime novel always benefits from the culprit who is quite complicated. 

So, make an effort to create a complex criminal. Never forget to give respect to the dead and show the impact of the violence on their loved ones. Play with the evidence, alibis, and motives to keep your audience guessing.

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Most of them are written from the point of view of the person investigating the crime. Almost all the crime story writers use the same investigator throughout the book series. The book The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe is considered the first modern crime novel. 

The detective characters ‘Sherlock Holmes’ and his companion, ‘Dr. Watson’ was popularized by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Another famous character is ‘Hercule Poirot’ from Agatha Christie’s novels. There are five essential features that can be found in most of good crime novels:

1. The detective

Every storyline of a good crime novel will have a detective who is usually the protagonist of the story. Placing a private investigator in a crime novel isn’t always easy. The writer needs to develop a character that the readers will follow during the entire novel. 

Many authors, therefore, spend some time thinking about their protagonist’s personality. They also think about their background, their strengths, their weaknesses, and their motivations. This is mainly due to the fact that they want their protagonist to be unique among the other investigators.

2. The crime

Without a crime, there’ll be no crime novel. Most of the crime novels have a crime as a central part of the story. The book can also have a string of related crimes. The crime that has been committed becomes the catalyst of the novel. It is, therefore, important for it to be interesting and mysterious. 

The seemingly unsolvable mystery would certainly keep the readers guessing until the end. A very common crime in such novels is murder, but there can be other crimes like robberies and kidnappings.

3. The suspects

Many of the crime novels have several suspects who might’ve committed the crime. These suspects may have a history of lying or have weak alibis. Whoever they are, such characters form a vital part of the novel. This is primarily due to the fact that they divert the reader’s attention away from the culprit. 

Some novels in the genre don’t have any suspects. This is deliberately done by certain crime writers to heighten the tension in the book. Often, having no suspects can make it difficult for the writer to keep the case from going cold. So, they find some creative ways to avoid the problem.

4. The antagonist

Every good crime novel would always have an antagonist. He or she is an individual who has evil intentions or selfish motives. Generally, the antagonist is the true culprit behind the crime that has been committed. In some cases, the antagonist doesn’t have to be the one who has committed the crime. 

He or she can be a police officer who doesn’t want someone to be a part of the investigation. The antagonist can also be someone who knows the identity of the culprit and tries to cover it up.

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