Genre Readers looking to expand discussion

Hi and hello,

let me start with a few excuses.

1) This question bothers me for quite a while already, and I don't know where else to ask it and this seems the most reasonable place to me. If I'm completely wrong, please guide me into any other direction.

2) My topic is badly chosen - 'poorly written' is very subjective, so let me explain what exactly I mean.

3) 'in general' is bad wording too, because I know that you cannot generalize ...

Anyway, my point is: I'm not particularly into crime stories, but in last months I read those two:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/64...

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/65...

Definitely, two are much to less to start generalizing at all, but the similarities that I found between those two were quite clear:

- An interesting, apparently well research plot
- Proper tension every now and then
- Poorly defined characters and background
- Characters behaviour is quite flexible (i.e., might change quite easily without any recognizable external input)
- Characters are quite fast in drawing their conclusions ('And then it hit him/her: John Doe must have done it, because ...')
- Main characters are morally superb ('there is nothing worse then racism...')

So, my question is .. do crime novels have to be like that? Is what I found according to definition of crime novels?
Did I draw wrong conclusions, may be to fast and should I read more of them? Are there any exceptions?

I know it's hard to compare ... but both of these clearly lack what I really enjoy when reading, for instance, the deep background and insight into the characters as provided in Crime and Punishment. Could such a style of writing exist in a crime novel at all, or would it be rather hindering for the tension?

I'm sorry if I failed to express myself clearly, but looking forward to your answers.

Thanks.

I've never really read crime novels. My guess would be that it would be an unfair generalization. I love fantasy but I know I've read some that are terrible. I'm sure there are great crime novels.

Neither of the books you have listed has a very high average rating(not that those are always the best indication). I would suggest you try Listopia. If you type in 'crime' several lists come up. I would maybe read a couple reviews about the book first too. Those tend to be more helpful than the ratings.

I'm sorry I'm not more help, but I don't know much about that genre. :)

If you want to read mystery novels (I am assuming, perhaps incorrectly, that crime and mystery novels are the same), I would recommend Agatha Christie as an author or Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe mysteries. Both authors are well known and acclaimed to be superior authors in their chosen genre.

My mother, an avid mystery fan for most of her life, recommended both authors to me. I grew up on the TV versions of many of the Agatha Christie mysteries. So far, I read Fer-de-Lance and started The League of Frightened Men, both Rex Stouts.

I know Rex Stout, at least, does a great job of characterization. The dialogue is great! Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin, Rex Stout's main characters are definitely not morally superior.

I hope this helps. :)