The rain beats steadily against the window like an uninvited
guest.
The room is dark save for a lone light in the centre where a
figure is crouched alone.
The knife, with its sharp glint, inches up slowly and
stealthily.
The killer strikes the unsuspecting victim. Again and again.
Till the page of the book is turned.
Sounds familiar?
Sounds like you? Not the killer, I mean, the reader…
Let me guess –
- Sherlock Holmes, Byomkesh Bakshi, Feluda, Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple – been there, read that?
- Your idea of a perfect day – an unread Agatha Christie where you could guess the murderer?
- Does everyone else in the family thinks you must have gone nuts as you sit and watch back-to-back Criminal Minds and/or Law and Order episodes to relax at the end of a long day?
- You wonder who let CID be launched on Indian Television as a crime show rather than a comedy one?
That book which you can’t put down, which keeps you awake at
night, which sends shivers down your spine and which unravels the dark corners
of a criminal mind?
The stories that do not just read like fast paced action
drama or like gruesome accounts of blood and gore with DNA analysis thrown in
for good measure but which challenge you to unravel a puzzle and match wits
with a ruthless and highly intelligent killer?
The good old-fashioned "whodunit" which reflects the changes in society and
the dangers of the human mind?
Well, the good news for all crime-starved souls like us is
that there do exist crime authors in this genre. The bad news is not many of
them are based out of India.
My top picks for a few interesting crime authors and the
unforgettable characters they have created:
1. PD JAMES
About the author: She's 90 and still quite a presence! Worked in the Home Office
Backdrop of the stories: London
Detective: Adam Dalgilesh; celebral and private, fond of writing poetry
What's unique: precise prose and sharp insights into human mind
2. RUTH RENDELL
About the author: A journalist; believes in exercise of the body and mind even at 82!
Backdrop of the stories: London
Detective: Inspector Wexford; well-read, witty, solid, calm, women love him
What's unique: often tackles issues of social injustice
3. HENNING MANKELL
About the author: Been a seaman and dabbled in theatre. Lives half the year in Africa
Backdrop of the stories: Sweden
Detective: Kurt Wallander; loves opera, grumpy but upright, battles diabetes and more
What's unique: beautifully incorporates changes in Swedish society
4. JO NESBO
About the author: Been a financial analyst and a rockstar; also played footfall
Backdrop of the stories: Norway
Detective: Inspector Harry Hole; a rebel battling the bottle and his own demons
What's unique: absolutely chilling crime descriptions; often about women in danger
5. IAN RANKIN
About the author: Has been writing since his graduation in 1982
Backdrop of the stories: Scotland
Detective: Inspector Rebus; lonely, troubled, tries hard to stay sober
What's unique: music plays an important part as a backdrop in his books
6. PETER TEMPLE
About the author: Former journalist and lecturer
Backdrop of the stories: Australia
Detective: Jack Irish; former lawyer turned investigator and others
What's unique: rich detailing of atmosphere including Australia's urban and rural
landscape
There are a few of my current favourite
picks. There are many more.
The detectives of these books are not paragons of virtue but believable and flawed characters with their own insecurities and fears. They are at times disillusioned, at times rebellious, they battle alcoholism and/or diabetes. The darkness they see around them affects them deeply; their personal lives are often in shambles. But they are characters one can root for and characters which develop further with each novel rather than remaining static with a few stock and trademark characteristics like some detectives of the earlier days.
The detectives of these books are not paragons of virtue but believable and flawed characters with their own insecurities and fears. They are at times disillusioned, at times rebellious, they battle alcoholism and/or diabetes. The darkness they see around them affects them deeply; their personal lives are often in shambles. But they are characters one can root for and characters which develop further with each novel rather than remaining static with a few stock and trademark characteristics like some detectives of the earlier days.
Well, naysayers will keep saying crime fiction is all about
formula. It will never win the Booker Prize or be called literary fiction. Could be true in many cases. But the best of crime fiction do not just aim to thrill, they feature good language and gripping stories apart from brilliant characterization and a chance to understand
the frailties of human mind and the changes in society that we never stop to think about.
I will return later this month with a few new Indian names
that can be added to this list. And yes, if you are part of the crime-starved
community, please also do share your new favourite authors.
And now returning to the crime scene we left. Did you just guess who
the murderer is?
No comments:
Post a Comment