As a writer of 'cosy' crime I can say - categorically - that there is nothing cosy about crime.
For some strange reason, a few years ago the term Cosy Crime was coined as a way of categorising Crime Novels that don't contain violence. Leaving those of us who write it rather puzzled. There are three basic categories in the crime genre:
CRIME - minimal violence, very little blood and gore. And - not necessarily a story about murder.
THRILLER - contains violence, blood and gore and bad language.
PSYCHOLOGICAL - pretty self-explanatory. Can include violence and bad language. Books on such 'subjects' as a woman (or anyone) in jeopardy.
West Sussex Libraries used to divide these books into two categories - Crime and Thriller. Then decided to shove them in together. Those of us who prefer one or the other complained but were unable to get the message across. Aren't librarians taught the difference between the genres?
And, of course, those of us who write so-called cosy crime are waiting for the day when someone devises a more sensible description!
For some strange reason, a few years ago the term Cosy Crime was coined as a way of categorising Crime Novels that don't contain violence. Leaving those of us who write it rather puzzled. There are three basic categories in the crime genre:
CRIME - minimal violence, very little blood and gore. And - not necessarily a story about murder.
THRILLER - contains violence, blood and gore and bad language.
PSYCHOLOGICAL - pretty self-explanatory. Can include violence and bad language. Books on such 'subjects' as a woman (or anyone) in jeopardy.
West Sussex Libraries used to divide these books into two categories - Crime and Thriller. Then decided to shove them in together. Those of us who prefer one or the other complained but were unable to get the message across. Aren't librarians taught the difference between the genres?
And, of course, those of us who write so-called cosy crime are waiting for the day when someone devises a more sensible description!
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