‘Cozies bring order to a world that is currently very chaotic.’ – Margaret Loudon
In a world of social media, 24-hour news, climate change and political volatility, it is not a surprise that readers seek respite in reading. It may be counter-intuitive, but this includes crime books, which I believe can be a form of comfort reading – in providing a ‘safe’ world in which good triumphs over evil. This doesn’t mean that we don’t take world issues seriously, but that we all find our own way of processing worrying things and protecting our mental health. Regardless of the wider context, personal crises and tricky situations arise in every life – it’s just part of being human – and books that provide an escape are often much treasured.
During the pandemic, UK sales of all print books rose by 5% compared to the previous year, with fiction up 20% from 2 years before, propelled by 19% volume growth for crime and thrillers, 23% for science fiction and fantasy, and 49% for romance.* True, we couldn’t get out and about then, and were looking for things we could do at home, which obviously included reading, but I also think that books helped us deal with the awful reality of those tricky times.
For a writer, crime novels can be a welcome refuge, too. I wrote the first draft of The Missing Checkout Girl, which started my Supermarket Mysteries series, in 2015 when my husband was very ill. I had publishing woes, too, as I was waiting to find out if a publisher wanted a young adult novel which I had rewritten several times (spoiler alert – they didn’t). In the middle of all this, I discovered a cast of characters which lifted me out of my prevailing gloom and worry. I got caught up in their story, and shared it chapter by chapter with my husband, emailing it to his Kindle when he had an extended hospital stay. It was such a special thing to be able to do, and I can honestly say that this book helped us both through a very difficult time. Words are powerful, make no mistake about that, and good-hearted story can have as much impact as a dark one.
The escape offered by crime books is not limited to cosy mysteries, though. I believe that most crime stories – including psychological thrillers, police procedurals, historical crime, spy thrillers, and gritty noir – bring a similar experience. They invite readers to delve into the darker side of human nature, consider a range of social, personal and political issues and, to different degrees, experience frightening situations with the promise that there will be resolution at the end, and, mostly, a sense of justice being done. The writer frames these stories with a beginning, a middle with twists and turns, and a satisfactory ending in a way that we can’t control real life.
It’s good to keep up with current events and have opinions on politics and the big issues facing us. It’s also fine to escape within the covers of a good book, and a crime novel may provide the perfect comfort we need.
*‘UK Book Sales in 2021 Highest in Decade,’ Alison Flood, The Guardian online, 2022
N.B. If you are a fan of crime fiction, you will find plenty of books in your local library, or on audiobook via Borrowbox. You may also like to join the B&NES Libraries’ online crime book group, Bath Bloodhounds, who discuss a different book each month.
To find out more about Rachel and her work, visit: rachelwardbooks.com