What Makes a Crime Book Great? The 5 Elements of a Good Crime Book

 

I am an ardent bibliophile. My love for books knows no bounds. My library at home is rich in books of myriad genres but the ones I find most gripping are the Crime Thrillers. They are par excellence in terms of hooking you to what will happen next and logically reaching conclusions in solving mysteries of what otherwise cannot be imagined many times. Oh my and the cliff-hangers! 

 

I have grown up being so smitten with Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes and have loved devouring their creative escapades the most. I shall forever remain their diehard fan. These days I am treating myself to Crime Fiction by several new International and Indian authors and delving into such tales which transport me away from the everyday hustle-bustle of life.

 

Let me share with you today the 5 elements of a Good Crime Book. Below are the reasons which make a crime book great.

 

1. Hooks you on Page ONE, impressive page-turner

For a real-worthy crime thriller, I believe it must have the ability to hook you in the first couple of pages. You can call me ruthless but with all due respect to the meticulous labor of the author, this is the thumb rule I would have followed if I had picked up a suspense genre literary work. 

Also, it must coax me to turn the page and read what will happen ahead before I have finished the current page. That finesse in weaving the tale is desired from a good crime book,

 

 2. Realistic, relatable, well-fleshed characters who excite you

The detective or the protagonist is the heart and soul of a good suspense novel. He must be able to carve a place in your heart. The more real he feels the better it is. Thus, it is important to make him and the other characters of the book humanly flawed. 

This gives us readers a genuinely holistic experience as we delve into the book. Often well fleshed out, relatable characters are the icing on the cake and contribute significantly to a crime book becoming a hit or a miss.

 

3. Deducing the line of thoughts and action is impossible

The storyline of a good crime book must be extremely intricate and intelligent as one must presume that the reader would have already read some worthy crime fiction and he must get an experience by reading this one that surpasses his expectations and gives him an adrenaline rush on occasions. 

At no point it must become predictable, cliche can put the reader off some time. A well-conceived storyline gives a good crime book a very strong foundation.

 

4. Exceptional settings and perfectly paced

The crime scene, the settings which leave absolutely no evidence for the detective, all add up to the excitement of the book. They may not be talked of much but they make a very essential part of an impeccable crime story. 

Also, a praise-worthy crime fiction runs at a pace that the reader gets blown away by the sequence of the incidents, unfolding of mysteries, the most suspected character turning out to be innocent, etc., etc., without getting any time to think of anything else.

5. The crime or murder mystery culminates to a befitting end

Also, a truly worthy crime book must possess an ending that satiates you in the end otherwise the overall experience remains devoid of the desired contentment. For me, it is one of the most essential elements of a book if the ending has done justice to the tale. A worthy solution to the crime is indispensable, the detective must always succeed. Don’t you agree?

 

Well, these are the elements that make a good crime book for me and if you too are a crime thriller enthusiast like me, I will love to hear your views on the same. 

 

Also, if you are not, I recommend you to soak yourself in the experience at the earliest. Books are the best friends to us, human beings and honestly, there is no habit like reading.

Must-Read Books for Kids Above 7

 

Books are life for me, they are my best friends since I was four. I started reading to my son when he was in my womb. I maintained this practice till he started reading himself. Yes, books are that important. They teach us worthy life lessons while entertaining us in the process.

 

A child who reads is relatively more sensitive and compassionate. His understanding of life, of problems and solutions, of worry and peace, is far better. Whether he is reading online or offline is immaterial as long as he is drowning deep in the world of knowledge the books impart, it is all worthwhile.

 

For as long as I remember, I have always been a very strong advocate of books and am ill-famous in my clan for only using books or digital library subscriptions to gift whenever I have to do so. I never miss a chance to introduce someone to the world of books if I can,particularly kids.

 

The books must be age-appropriate so that the kids can understand, enjoy and comprehend. So based on popular demand, I enlist below certain books and series I highly recommend for kids above seven.

 

1. The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

These are undoubtedly the best set of fantasy fiction books for kids ever written. It is the tale of young wizard Harry and his friends Ron and Hermione. The kids love reading Potter’s battle against Lord Voldemort. The vocabulary and the grammar used in these book are impressive and will passively aid children to get better at English as they enjoy the intriguing tale. It is one series my child had read and re-read several times. It also became his inspiration to pen his first book.

2. Diary of a Wimpy Kid(Series) by Jeff Kinney

If you wish to gift your kid something more relatable and enjoyable with all the fabulous cartoons and fun satires, soak him in the world of pre-teen Greg Heffley, the protagonist of this series of fifteen books. I bet he or she is going to absolutely adore these books. Written in simple language these contain journal entries with illustrations. 

3. Artemis Fowl Series by Eoin Colfer

This series revolves around the twelve-year-old genius Artemis Fowl who is also the protagonist. He is a descendant of criminal masterminds which puts him into several battles worth teaching the little readers a lot of life lessons along with keeping them on their toes for most part of thetale. 

4. The Wonderful Wizard of OZ by L. Frank Baum

This book is a modern-day fairy tale and is a highly recommended all-time literature classic, a unique fiction of Dorothy and her dog Toto is indeed worth a read for all kids. Do put it on the read list for your children.

5. The Secret Garden by Frances HogdsonBurnett

This book makes a worthy read for kids because it delves into the deep emotions of a ten-year-old girl who was not wanted by her parents. Then what changes suddenly in Mary’s life, her roller coaster ride is definitely worth a read.

6. The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi

Yet another magnificent read, this book is the tale of a wooden puppet Pinocchio carved out of wood by Gepetto. This book teaches young minds the difference between good and bad in a very impactful manner.

You will find all these titles and more at the British Council Digital Library.  In these pandemic times and otherwise as well, I highly recommend you gift your kid the membership of a worthy digital library like that of British Council which offers him a diverse variety of reads at his fingertips, anytime and anywhere. 

 

Once your child becomes a member, they have unlimited access to as many as 10,000 eBooks and audiobooks along with newspapers and magazines and academic learning and research materials. The online events and workshops for children they conduct are phenomenal - highly engaging and we love them. Sometimes we also upscale our skills through their short video tutorials. Parents looking to inculcate reading habits in children can explore British Council ‘s ‘Reading for Life’ programme that sends young readers, between 7 – 12 years, on a three-week reading adventure. I recommend it and feel taking their membership is definitely worth it. 

 

All in all, there is nothing as vital as introducing the habit of reading to your kid and the earlier you do it, the better. I really hope the above recommendations help.

Book Review of ‘The Colony Kid’ by Meena Chatty

There are several instances in life when you feel like going back to your childhood and live it all over again. When you are hit with nostalgia and precious memories come flooding by. They warm your heart and give up a tinkling sensation. You know those days would never come back again yet you endeavor to relive them over and over until your heart is satisfied which actually never happens. In my case, this phenomenon has got triggered last week when I started reading Meena Chatty’s book, ‘The Colony Kid’. 

Memoirs are my all-time favorite and I am so glad I picked this one up. Being such a breezy read, it shall definitely dwell in my heart for a long while. Being an 80’s kid, I could very well relate to all the anecdotes therein which touched the deepest corners of my heart. Like Meena has a younger sister, I have a younger brother so the correlation was obviously inevitable throughout. 

About the Book

The Colony Kid is a scrapbook of memories from the childhood of the author. She showcases the delights of the unique times while growing up in the 80s in a residential colony in the metropolitan city of Bangalore. The book explores the stark differences between her childhood and the childhood of kids of the present times. She looks back a few decades in order to illustrate that big happiness is found in small things.

If you are an 80s kid, this book will take you back to those times. If you are a millennial, this book will tell you how your parents’ childhood was.

About the Author 

Meena Chatty is a mother of two, a yoga lover, and a book-mad. She is also enthusiastic about painting, art, and languages. She takes great delight in teaching Mathematics to her children and nephews. One of her most loved traits is to make up stories to help them understand tough concepts or lines that need to be learned by heart. She is an avid learner of everything. Her blog BalconySunrise reflects the myriad emotions she has on life, everyday situations, and everything in between. Contact her at: thebalconysunrise@gmail.com @msrandomgyaan (Twitter) www.balconysunrise.wordpress.com

No. of Pages: 85

My Take On The Book

I genuinely loved devouring the book in one go. It was difficult to put down. For the straight three hours that I was immersed in the beautifully weaved chapters, I was totally at peace and smiled throughout. This book is indeed a treat and a must-read for everyone. For our generation to recall our best times and the coming generation to know what they are missing on. In fact, if there is a way to go back, I will definitely like to send back my son to enjoy the little joys of life author Meena talked about.

In this book, Meena has penned about the precious memories of her valuable childhood. She has also beautifully at the end of each chapter drawn a corollary between her childhood and today’s times. But as I read between the lines I also saw a significant lesson hidden in each anecdote whether it’s about patience, acceptance, or any other value we miss to witness in the kids of the present generation.

Language and Narration 

I must admit another high of this book is the use of highly personalized language by the author. The narrative style is very gripping and I loved the childhood sketches included in the book. How real are they, I and my brother left each other such mails too. I would also like to thank the author for reminding us of the umpteen childhood games we played, I had actually forgotten them. Now I have a list to save my kid from excessive screen time. In fact, I can endlessly keep on enumerating all the things I loved in this book, but I don't want to spoil your experience of enjoying the book yourself. All in all, I enjoyed it every bit.

Brilliant job Meena! Deeply appreciate your effort, loved your book, and wish you all the best for many more literary outings in the coming times.

You can download the #Blogchatterebook here. 

Global Launch of my 5th Book: Some Milestones turn you Speechless

My precious readers! Words are failing me today to announce to you the global release of my 5th book- ‘Soulful Letters on COVID, For My Future Grandchild.’ It’s an inspirational testimony of the pandemic era for future generations.

When a woman stranded one thousand kilometers away from home for over eighty-three days during a pandemic, decides to document the times in the form of priceless letters for her future grandchild, she indeed creates a  worthy legacy. She puts these letters together in the form of a unique, emotional yet deeply motivating book written straight from the heart. This is the premise behind my latest release and that woman is me~Yours Truly Roma. Honestly, this isn’t a book it is a piece of my heart.

Yes, this book is my personal story of getting stranded in Vadodara, Gujarat where we had gone for some official work and then the lockdown happened. The pandemic has hit the world and for the first time in our lives, we had to fight for basic amenities. You must read this book to know how did we survive and did we manage to reach back home?

I am also glad to share this book has garnered some really awesome initial reviews. My heart is ecstatic reading them over and over again. When your hard work bears fruits, the tiniest success feels the sweetest. I am grateful to everyone for appreciating my work and want to say that I am able to pen my 5th book in most difficult times only thanks to your love and support always. Writing these letters became my source of inspiration during these most difficult times of our lives. Sharing some of the reviews of my book here.

Jayanti Manikandan says: “The author is only in her 30s but she has written the letters so well by feeling and expressing the situation so well. She talks with such love for her grandchild and at the same time explains the pandemic subtly and accurately for a child’s understanding.” Read her full review here.

Surbhi Prapanna feels: “This book is a collection of heartfelt and soulful letters that a granny has written for her grandchild with pure love and care, with a desire to share her experiences and learning during the challenging time of COVID 19. This book will inspire you to write something like this for your grandchild." Her full review can be read here.

Noor Anand  Chawla recommends: “Roma Gupta Sinha’s ‘Soulful Letters on COVID, For My Future Grandchild’ is a sentimental book, recording a personal story of hope and survival in difficult times. I feel that it will appeal to people just emerging from the lockdown. You will identify with her experiences and may feel compelled to share it with your children and grandchildren, so they can enjoy the benefit of her wisdom.” Check out her full review here.

Dipika Singh says: “Roma’s book  ‘Soulful Letters on COVID, For My Future Grandchild’ is a lovely book that brings positivity and hope for the readers. Recording lockdown days into heartfelt letters is a wonderful idea, to share history with future generations. Given a chance, I would too like to keep such records for my future grandchildren." Check out her full review here.

Ruchi Verma announces: It’s always said what we want to transfer wisdom to our coming generation and when we are facing such a tough time of COVID 19 this book is the best way to pass on unforgettable soulful letters to the coming generations. You can read her review here. 

Sonal Meenal feel: Really loved the way Roma has addressed the grandchild and explains each aspect of the situation positively. They imbibe various values like humanity, positivity, fitness, gratitude and all letters are filled with care. You can read the full article here.

In case you are interested in listening to some beautiful anecdotes from the book, tune in to my interview on the famous show - Razzmatazz with Rashi below. 

I am so indebted with all the love and warmth you guys have given me always. I am giving you a piece of my heart in the form of this book. I trust you will confer it the same love that you have given to my earlier literary outings. 

You can grab a copy of my book here.

If you like what I write, you can grab the copies of my five published ebooks here: The Fragrance of True Love, Destiny's Favorite Child, Dare to Defy The Destiny, Empowered Women Empower Women and Soulful Letters On COVID, for my Future Grandchild

 

Happiness is Reading a Good Book: It’s All Called Love by Dipika Singh #BookReviewSeries

Happiness has different meanings for different people but I believe it isn’t really very hard to find if you know what really makes you happy. For me, little joys of life give abundant happiness. Joys like reading a good book over the weekend make my day. I am talking about the debut solo book of author Dipika Singh ‘It’s all Called Love’ which was released in the #BlogchatterEbook Carnival this year(where incidentally my 5th book too was published). I completed it yesterday and here are my two cents about the book. If you are a sucker of love stories this one undoubtedly is for you.

About The Book 

True love is hard to find and even harder to hide. 'Successful lawyer Shalini Taneja meets attractive Samar Kumar, past holds them back but their chemistry is electric' - A gripping love story of emotions, bitter past, and a promising future. Love comes in many forms, and not all love stories have happy endings. This is a book that will obsess you with 11 unique shades of love.

About the Author 

Dipika Singh is a full-time blogger, author, wife, and mother of a 7-year-old active girl. She has worked in top-notch international banks for over 10 years and now trains young MBA aspirants. Her lifestyle blog, Gleefulblogger has won many accolades.

Her debut writing piece is part of the anthology 'A Jar of Memories' published by Half Baked Beans. It’s All Called Love is Dipika’s first solo eBook.

Number of Pages: 32

Book Cover and Concept 

To be very honest, I really loved the subtle book cover which was most appropriate to the beautiful depiction of love in the book. The leafy hearts on the cover were indicative of the fact how people exist as unique individuals somewhere in different parts of the universe like varied leaves on different trees,  but their hearts are made for each other and when these hearts meet, some memorable and treasurable love tales get weaved. This is precisely the theme of the book as well, so apt cover.

The book has eleven unique love stories with a garland of emotions so full of love to touch and tinkle our souls. I appreciate the way how the author has selectively and articulately put together a bouquet of love tales in this book which gives a reader a worthy experience of delving in different shades of love and passion. 

My Take On The Book 

When I first picked this book, I expected it to be a romantic novella but getting eleven love stories in place of one was an instant treat for me.

I was smitten from the first one itself which was Reema and Abhay’s cute little love story if we can call it so. Now, that’s the twist in the tales, you find a hint of love in each but whether or not the feelings culminate in love, is why you should read this book because sometimes people made for each other too don’t unite. Destiny has different plans for them at least at the moment.

The stories left me with many different emotions, sometimes a sweet joy while at others a little bitter pain and that’s perhaps what makes a good book if you can feel the emotions of a character in your heart.

I also feel that the title of each story was perfectly chosen keeping in mind the mood of the tale.

The characters are very well fleshed out and stand in front of your eyes as you read about them. Their looks, their heights, their dress sense, and their character traits all are weaved seamlessly in the tales. 

Also,  I would like to say that the author is extremely good at weaving fiction especially in this genre, and has a way with words. It felt as if this genre belongs to her and this is where she should explore her future literary outings.

Language and Narration

The language of the book is full of individual conversations and a plethora of human emotions to make it an enjoy-worthy read. Honestly, I loved this short and crisp anthology with varied hues of love.

The narration is this book is very natural, fast-paced, and strong and it feels like someone very close to the characters has written their real-life stories. At no point, the book lacks pace or slows down and you don’t like putting it down until you finish it in one go.

Each story in the book left me asking for more and each individual has the potential to become a full-fledged romantic novel. I recommend the author to explore the possibility and give us readers a deeper and longer delve into her characters in her next book because I am sure it will definitely make a brilliant read too. 

This is Yours Truly Roma signing off with my best wishes to the author Dipika Singh who is also a dear friend and I have written this post for her #SpeakEasyChallenge to spread happiness around.

Download Link

I strongly recommend this book to everyone. You can download a copy here.

If you like what I write, you can grab the copies of my five published ebooks here: The Fragrance of True Love, Destiny's Favorite Child, Dare to Defy The Destiny , Empowered Women Empower Women and To My GrandChild, With Love

"This post is written for SpeakEasy Blogging Challenge by Ruchi & Dipika"