I write psychological suspense novels. It’s my happy place. I love to figure out what’s going on in my character’s minds, and it was clear to me from the beginning what kind of books I was going to write.

If you want to write a crime-related story or novel, and you’re not sure which genre is for you, read on. Even if you end up mixing genres (which is okay), it’s useful to get clarity on the kind of expectations the reader or an agent will have when they pick up your work. They want to feel they’re sitting within the realms of a genre, but also they want it to feel fresh and different. Simple, right?

I hosted a workshop recently, and we discussed genre at length — what makes a book fall into a category, where there’s crossover, and why some writers create genre-busting stories. It made for an interesting discussion. In the end, it was helpful to exaggerate the elements to make the genre differences clear.

Here’s my summary of what makes a genre. Again, I’m exaggerating for effect, so forgive my clichés.

Crime

Crime stories focus on a criminal, on circling good vs evil, and the wrong needing to be avenged. It’s a kind of battle of wills, often between differing morals or perspectives between the hero and the evil person. Think Michael Connolly or Ian Rankin.

We usually know who the criminal is, what they’ve done, and we’re left wondering how they’re going to get caught before they do it again. The hero is often a tough cop with flaws (often an alcoholic for some reason).

There are lots of sub-genres of crime, just to keep things interesting.

Crime noir has similar themes, where a detective is meandering through the dark underbelly of society. It always happens in a big city. It all feels desperate and dark. Think James Ellroy, Raymond Chandler.

Military crime novels are popular, blending characters in the military with all the elements of crime. Think Tom Clancy. There’s a base, a warzone, maybe a special forces unit.