The best crime/thriller books for characters and character

Despite writing mid last century, I see Raymond Chandler as the first really modern crime writer. He once famously commented “… down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean, who is neither tarnished nor afraid.” and Philip Marlowe admirably fulfills these qualities. Gritty problems, witty dialogue, glamorous but unstable women and men without scruples people his books in gripping prose. Read The Big Sleep to dive with Philip Marlowe into an underworld of corruption, danger, and crime. Thank goodness Marlowe is on our side! I read Chandler long before my character David Hidalgo appeared in my imagination and certainly wasn’t aware of any influence but it turns out Hidalgo shares many of Marlowe’s characteristics despite not being a detective himself. So thank you Raymond Chandler!

Martin Cruz Smith’s first book in his Arkady Renko series, Gorky Park, did very well and was made into a successful film. Later books are perhaps not so well known which I think is a great pity. Smith’s books ooze atmosphere, intrigue, and authenticity taking us into other worlds—in this case, that of Russian oligarchs and the deadly exclusion zone round Chernobyl. Arkady Renko is an incorruptible investigator in a society where everyone is on the make—another parallel I’ve found very applicable to my own work. And, unlike many thriller authors, Smith is also a brilliant writer of scintillating, gripping narrative. I’d love David Hidalgo and Arkady Renko to meet and have a chat over a few glasses of red wine, vodka, or both!

I could easily recommend any of Robert Harris’s “intelligent thrillers” however I’ve picked this one because I like the idea of an “ordinary” man who finds himself in the midst of a dangerous mystery. Briefly, The Second Sleep is set in the future after our civilisation has destroyed itself and where life is now functioning at the medieval level. The church, which controls everything, has banned investigation into the past. A humble priest is sent to visit a village in his parish and begins to suspect that things are not as they seem. Eventually, against the orders of the church, he decides to try to penetrate the past with alarming consequences. So, as for my character, David Hidalgo, we find that ordinary people can make a difference!

Rather than a great story in itself this is a book about great storytelling. Perhaps telling stories is one of our strongest links with our prehistoric past. Today we might sit on the bus with a Kindle whereas they gathered round the fire outside a cave but the process is the same. A master storyteller entertains and intrigues their audience with powerful and intriguing tales. John Yorke explains in a fascinating way the power of great stories, why we enjoy them, and how they are constructed and have their effect. In some ways I wish I’d read this before starting to write however it’s been very comforting to find that by luck or good judgment I have ended up following many of Yorke’s guiding principles. 

Brooks is interested in what makes for a good society and how we as individuals can lead moral, principled lives that benefit others. This must be a subject of interest to everyone but I think has a particular application for writers trying to portray men and women of character and moral purpose. In Brooks’ metaphor the first mountain consists of career, family, wealth, reputation, and everything you would put into your CV. The second mountain is what they might say about you after you die when none of that matters anymore. The issue now is character not achievements. Were you kind, hospitable, generous, compassionate, and humble in your outlook, or ego-centric and proud? For any one trying to write a character with character this is fascinating reading.