In my blog based around the concept of a fictional detective, I cite a number of strategies which have been developed over the years to portray the fictional detective. To me the term detective covers a good array of meanings ranging from private detectives to members of the police. In fact , the lead personality doesn't have to be be a conventional investigator at all, as is the case with Jame's Patterson's Alex Cross, who, depending on where you join him in his fictional career, is a combo investigator and psychologist.
This article is meant to offer a mini-review of James Patterson, although not in the traditional sense. While it's true I'd like to delve a little deeper into his works, I am not interested in reviewing a selected title, or group of titles, but more Mr. Patterson's style.
Most if not all of James Patterson's books are thrillers. Thrillers differ from standard who-done-its in that the opponent, or bad guy if you will, is commonly known by the reader early on or, at the least, the reader knows something about him (or her). As a result, sections of the story are usually told through the antagonist's eyes.
Thrillers are multiple point of view books. That is, some of the story is told through the hero's eyes, some is told through those of the perpetrator , and some may be told from the POV of some small characterâ€"perhaps even someone who the bad guy is chasing or is trying to kill.
To me, multiple point of view books are most times more action-packed than an other sorts of stories. In KISS THE GIRLS for example, Patterson is able to present the reader with three separate murder scenes, carried out by the same pathological killer, the hero's mad dash to the hospital to save a dying boy, and Cross's discovery that his niece has been kidnappedâ€"all in under 50 pages.
Like Patterson, it's precisely this event-filled story telling that drew me to this type of writing when I created my own novel, ZION'S WEB. ZION'S WEB isn't just a thriller, but, given the reviews I've received so far, is packed full of actionâ€"due no doubt to the multiple point of view methodology I chose to use.
This article is meant to offer a mini-review of James Patterson, although not in the traditional sense. While it's true I'd like to delve a little deeper into his works, I am not interested in reviewing a selected title, or group of titles, but more Mr. Patterson's style.
Most if not all of James Patterson's books are thrillers. Thrillers differ from standard who-done-its in that the opponent, or bad guy if you will, is commonly known by the reader early on or, at the least, the reader knows something about him (or her). As a result, sections of the story are usually told through the antagonist's eyes.
Thrillers are multiple point of view books. That is, some of the story is told through the hero's eyes, some is told through those of the perpetrator , and some may be told from the POV of some small characterâ€"perhaps even someone who the bad guy is chasing or is trying to kill.
To me, multiple point of view books are most times more action-packed than an other sorts of stories. In KISS THE GIRLS for example, Patterson is able to present the reader with three separate murder scenes, carried out by the same pathological killer, the hero's mad dash to the hospital to save a dying boy, and Cross's discovery that his niece has been kidnappedâ€"all in under 50 pages.
Like Patterson, it's precisely this event-filled story telling that drew me to this type of writing when I created my own novel, ZION'S WEB. ZION'S WEB isn't just a thriller, but, given the reviews I've received so far, is packed full of actionâ€"due no doubt to the multiple point of view methodology I chose to use.
About the Author:
Michael Snow is the author of ZION'S WEB, the first of the Zachariah Burton detective thrillers. As well as writing stories, Michael maintains a blog site which contains a considerable number of very helpful and entertaining blogs, including tips on writing a book.
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