Next month is Crime Reading Month in our libraries. We know you love a good mystery so we have all sorts of exciting events planned, as well as a fantastic stock of crime fiction novels.
Thriller Writer, Lucy Brighton is just one of the talented authors we have running an event in the Shipley Library in June (see ticket details below). Here she tells us;
Why I Write Crime/ Thriller Fiction
Crime books are the most borrowed books at my local library. True crime dominates streaming platforms like Netflix. Thriller and crime novels consistently top bestseller charts. But why are we, as a society, so fascinated by the darker side of humanity?
Perhaps it is because crime fiction allows us to safely explore fear, danger, morality, and survival from the comfort of our cosy chairs. These stories challenge us to confront uncomfortable truths while still offering hope, or maybe even justice.
It is estimated that one in eight novels sold are in the crime genre, and according to a Nielsen study in the UK, crime fiction accounts for around 20% of audiobook sales and more than a third of ebook sales. Clearly, readers are drawn to these stories, but crime fiction is about far more than entertainment.
My love of the genre extends beyond writing. I run a crime thriller book club at my local library, where readers come together to discuss the stories, characters, and real-world issues explored through crime fiction. There is something powerful about how these books spark conversation and connect people through a shared fascination with mystery and human behaviour.
For me, crime writing matters because it gives a voice to the unheard and unseen.
Every year in the UK, approximately 75,000 to 100,000 children and young people are reported missing. Most cases involve teenagers, many of whom are at significant risk of harm, sexual exploitation, trafficking, or criminal exploitation. Yet outside of the occasional high-profile case, these stories are rarely spoken about.
That silence is part of the reason I wrote Finding Home.
Within the suspense and mystery, the novel shines a light on missing teenagers, exploitation, and modern slavery, issues that exist far closer to home than many people realise. Crime and thriller novels can reflect society back at us by exposing corruption, inequality, abuse, and social conflict through stories that are gripping and accessible.
I believe crime fiction can entertain while also encouraging awareness and conversation. Readers may come for the twists, suspense, and danger, but they often leave thinking about the real-world issues underneath the story.
That is why I write crime fiction. Not just to thrill readers, but to explore the realities we do not talk about enough and to remind people that behind every headline, statistic, or missing person report is a human story waiting to be seen.
Lucy will be running an interactive workshop at Shipley Library on Saturday, June 13 at 10.30am on How to Write a Killer Thriller.
For tickets click this link https://www.ticketsource.com/bradfordlibraries/t-ejjplng
Lucy is also an expert on social media, self promotion. If YOU need help with your social media or website please come along and learn from the best!
She will be at Shipley Library (Enterprise Hub on right hand side of entrance) on Sat June 13, at 2pm.
For tickets click this link
https://www.ticketsource.com/bradfordlibraries/t-oeeneyy
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