Saturday 28 September 2013

Mystery And Suspense In FBI Books

By Marla Mills


If it's cold and miserable outside, one of the best ways to treat yourself is to curl up with a good book. It will transport you to another world and help you to escape from the drudgery of daily life. If you're not really into romance but would rather read something action-filled that will get your adrenalin pumping, FBI books may be just the thing for you.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is, as its name suggests, an American governmental organization that operates on federal level. Its main function is to investigate crimes and to help local law-enforcement agencies. It also has jurisdiction in Native American reservations. The Bureau mainly works with serious crimes like murder, kidnapping, the sexual abuse of children and crimes that take place across state borders but also plays an important role in combating terrorism.

Law enforcement makes for fascinating stories and the FBI often features in crime thrillers set in the United States. Probably one of the most suspense-filled novels produced in the genre is 'The Silence of the Lambs', one of a series of novels by Thomas Harris. This and other works in the series features a convicted serial killer named Hannibal Lecter, who helps the bureau catch other murderers. 'The Silence of the Lambs' became the basis of the eponymous film that won a host of awards and was a box-office hit.

Another author who has written an entire series of novels about the Bureau is Catherine Coulter. She's known especially for her historical romances but has also become a prolific writer of suspense thrillers. Her first book in the genre was 'The Cove', published in 1995. Since then she has published more books in the series almost annually.

Many authors of crime thrillers feature Bureau agents in some of their novels. Tami Hoag's 'Ashes to Ashes' is an example. Several authors also created entire series. Among these are the series by CJ Lyons featuring agent Lucy Guardino; Lisa Gardner's novels featuring profiler Pierce Quincy and sometimes his daughter Kimberley, an agent; and romance novels by Julie James featuring agents and US attorneys.

There are some authors in the genre who have insider's knowledge because they used to be agents too. When they write works of fiction, they often base their stories on actual cases they investigated. Other former agents like John E Douglas, who inspired one of the main characters in Thomas Harris' books, write non-fiction works about their time with the Bureau and the notorious criminals they helped to apprehend.

While being a former agent is definitely an advantage for authors in the genre, it's not e prerequisite. The FBI makes it much easier for writers to do research about how the Bureau operates. There is a special unit called the Investigative Publicity and Public Affairs Unit that helps with information and fact checking.

One of the best places to find FBI books is your local bookstore. You'll find most works among the crime or suspense thrillers or in the non-fiction section. Another option is to look online and also read some reviews before you buy a book to help you through that rainy day or your daily commute.




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