What is a thriller?

The World of Spies, Lies, Conspiracy Theories and Other Thrilling Things

Thrillers have always been one of the most popular modern reading genres, with dozens of them dominating the bestseller lists each year. Thrillers stand alone for their sheer page–turning quotient ― once you’ve been in the grip of a good thriller you can’t wait for your next thriller fix.

What exactly is the definition of the thriller genre? There’s no narrow definition. According to International Thriller Writers, a thriller is characterized by “the sudden rush of emotions, the excitement, sense of suspense, apprehension, and exhilaration that drive the narrative, sometimes subtly with peaks and lulls, sometimes at a constant, breakneck pace.“ In short, a thriller thrills. How? Mostly through skillful plotting.

Thrillers provide such a rich literary feast. There are all kinds ― the legal thriller, the spy thriller, the action–adventure thriller, the medical thriller, the police thriller, the romantic thriller, the historical thriller, the political thriller, the religious thriller, the high–tech thriller, the military thriller, the crime thriller, the supernatural thriller … The list goes on and on, with new variations constantly being invented. In fact, this openness to expansion is one of the genre’s most enduring characteristics. But what gives the variety of thrillers a common ground is the intensity of emotions they create, particularly those of apprehension and exhilaration, of excitement and breathlessness, all designed to generate that all–important thrill. By definition, if a thriller doesn’t thrill, it’s not doing its job.“
(James Patterson, June 2006, “Introduction,“ Thriller“ )

What makes a thriller thrilling? Nonstop action, precarious situations, hair–raising suspense, and heroic characters all exemplify the best thrillers on the market.
“Any story that keeps you on the edge of your seat and, likely, up all night.“
(Robert S. Levinson, author) Even so, what most readers think of first is the “thrill“ in “thriller.“ And they’re right. What gives thrillers common ground is the intensity of the emotions they create, particularly those of apprehension and exhilaration, of excitement and breathlessness. By definition, if a thriller does not thrill, it is not doing its job. Thrillers are known for their pace, the force with which they hurtle the reader along. They are an obstacle race in which an objective is achieved at heroic cost. The objective can be personal (trying to save a spouse or a long–lost relative) or global (trying to avert a world war) and often is both. Perhaps there is a time limit, perhaps not. Sometimes thrillers begin with intrigue, building rhythmically to rousing climaxes that peak with a cathartic, explosive ending. Other times, they start at top speed and never ease off. At their best ― this needs emphasizing ― thriller authors use scrupulous research and accurate details to create environments in which meaningful characters teach us about our world. When a reader finishes, he or she feels not only emotionally satisfied but is also better informed ― and hungry for the next riveting tale.

Thrillers often overlap with mystery stories, but are distinguished by the structure of their plots. A mystery is about a crime, about a dead body and clues to the solution of the crime. A thriller is a novel of suspense, jeopardy and the achievement of a heroic objective.
The thriller genre can include numerous, often overlapping sub–genres, and elements of other genres ― crime, mystery, horror, high–tech, adventure, science fiction, historical fiction …

Notable examples in the history of the genre include: Dracula, The War of the Worlds, The Riddle of the Sands and The Thirty–Nine Steps.
“Dracula“ (1897) by Irish novelist and short story writer Abraham “Bram“ Stoker (1847–1912) is a gothic supernatural thriller told in the first person (diaries, letters, newspaper clippings). A young Englishman named Jonathan Harker travels to the Carpathian Mountains to meet a client named Count Dracula. But when the Count shows his horrifying true colours, Harker barely escapes with his life. The Count soon arrives in England, bringing with him death and menace. Harker and his terrified friends are forced to turn to Dr. Van Helsing, who uses modern science to battle ancient superstition.
“The War of the Worlds“ (1898) by H. G. Wells (1866–1946) was one of the world’s pioneering thrillers, introducing this genre, unknown at the time, to worldwide acclaim. And the story is still alive and well today.
“The Riddle of the Sands: A Record of Secret Service“, written in 1903 by Irish nationalist Erskine Childers (1870–1922), is “the first modern thriller“, according to Ken Follett, who described it as “an open–air adventure thriller about two young men who stumble upon a German armada preparing to invade England.“
“The Thirty–Nine Steps“ (1915) is an early thriller by John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir (1975–1949), a British novelist and 15th Governor General of Canada, 1935–1940, in which an innocent man becomes the prime suspect in a murder case and finds himself on the run from both the police and enemy spies.

International Thriller Writers, Inc., was founded October 9, 2004, at a meeting at Bouchercon World Mystery and Suspense Conference in Toronto, Canada. Six months later, some 150 authors with more than one billion books sold worldwide had joined the organization as founding members.
Co–founders Gayle Lynds and David Morrell are co–presidents. Its membership includes Clive Cussler, Jonathan Kellerman, Steve Berry, David Baldacci, Tess Gerritsen, Lee Child, Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child, Katherine Neville, etc.
This is the first professional organization for thriller authors.
(Official Website: http://www.thrillerwriters.org).

Novelists closely associated with the genre include Alistair MacLean, Ian Fleming, John le Carré, Ken Follett, Frederick Forsyth, Graham Greene, John Grisham, Robert Ludlum, Tom Clancy, Michael Crichton, Jack Higgins, Patricia Highsmith, Ed McBain, Steve Berry, Craig Thomas, Dan Brown, Lincoln Child, Clive Cussler, Len Deighton, Katherine Neville, Nelson DeMille, Mary Higgins Clark, Robin Cook, Patricia Cornwell, Andy McNab, David Morrell, David Baldacci, James Patterson, Harlan Coben, Nicci French, Stephen White, Scot Turow, Douglas Preston, Thomas Harris, Robert Harris, Tess Gerritsen, Matthew Reilly, James Rollins, Daniel Silva, Kathy Reichs, etc.