NOTES By Lance Andrako

How do the authors of psychological thrillers hook and hold readers? "Whether you're a fan of the genre that is psychological thrillers, or a reluctant admirer like myself, there's no escaping that these books certainly are gripping. While you blink in the light of day, and kid yourself into believing that it's all just make believe, it's not half as convincing when a stair board creaks or a curtain shimmers in the dark stillness of the night. Keep the lights on.” Chatterjee, Tilottama. "Psychological Thrillers." All thriller books contain suspense, drama and sudden horrible plot twists, however it’s the term “Psychological” that separates this genre. Psychological Thrillers are unique because they mess with the mind of not only the character, but the reader, often leading him to believe one thing while something else is at play altogether. That a novel can toy with your mind this way makes it all the more absorbing. “What makes a thriller thrilling? Nonstop action, precarious situations, hair- raising suspense, and heroic characters all exemplify the best thrillers on the market.” Reader’s Digest

What is the relationship between psychological thrillers and truth? Psychological Thrillers are almost always fiction, so the relationship between the genre and truth isn’t technically that close. However, most of the time psychological thrillers are meant to appear as if they could be true, in order to fully scare the reader, so they are written in a realistic way. They do this by creating believable characters and a plausible villain. So even when the books aren’t based on any type of truth, they still are somewhat connected to truth.

What are typical themes of Psychological Thrillers? The concept or reality and it’s importance Perception The human mind Human existence/purpose Identity Death The concept of morality Fatalism and Determinism – human actions are pointless because whatever is meant to happen will happen, and everything leads to something else Dualism – the world is divided between mind and matter

How do authors use literary elements in psychological thrillers to tell the story? A common literary element used in a psychological thriller is back story- this is when you’re provided with the background of a character. Authors use this so that the reader may not only understand the character and his thought patterns, but so that you can understand their motivations and position in the plot of the story. Often, these stories are based on deceptive mind games, so it helps your understanding of the novel if you can already know how the main character thinks and operates. A stream of consciousness may also be used to tell the story, such as in Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger, or Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk. This is when you are reading the narrator’s thoughts as they enter his mind. This technique is frequently used in this genre because it not only propels the story and plot, it does so from the narrator’s point of view so that you can see his thoughts and reactions, and further involve yourself in the story.

What draws males to Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk and other books in the psychological thriller genre? Typically, psychological thrillers feature action at some point, and most have a good amount of graphic violence which appeals to most men. Psychological thrillers always have some type of unexpected plot twist, which makes the story interesting. “Psychological Thrillers have interactive elements. The reader may choose to challenge the tale by attempting to outwit the author and solve a crime before detectives do, figure out how best to defeat a foe before the hero does, or unravel the elements of a conspiracy before the writer reveals the whole story.” (writerscafe.org) Men enjoy reading about violence or psychotic people.

What do psychological thrillers make readers feel when they read them? Psychological thrillers make people feel fear and/or terror while reading them, because psychological thrillers are centered around grim, scary topics such as murderers, violent mental diseases or sociopaths. Psychological thrillers also can make people feel intelligent and intuitive, if they were to have figured out the inevitable plot twist or surprise ending. They may also make a reader feel foolish or dull if they completely were blindsided by the inevitable plot twist, especially if hints were dropped the entire book, which they probably were. Psychological thrillers also make people feel inspired and curious, because what sets a psychological thriller apart from a common thriller is that it always features some kind of mind game or deception.

How do the characters evolve in psychological thrillers? The characters in psychological thrillers usually are forced to go through some type of journey in the novel, if not a literal journey then at least a metaphorical journey ending with the character having a better understanding of the world or himself. The main character in psychological thrillers is often a person that is for the main part solitary and brooding, with intelligence and some sense of cynicism. In this case, the character almost always evolves into either someone kinder and more open, or the same only even more intelligent yet optimistic. The main character of a psychological thriller, which is often the narrator, almost always changes for the better.

What are some popular books in this genre? Fight Club – Chuck Palahniuk The Silence of the Lambs – Thomas Harris Misery – Stephen King The Talented Mr. Ripley – Patricia Highsmith The Shining – Stephen King Hannibal – Thomas Harris