Gritty Crime Fiction Demands Justice For The Victim(s)

Gosh, I’ve been reading edgy crime fiction for years, both Christian and secular. Truth be told, until very recently I read a whole lot more secular crime fiction than Christian. Well, let’s be honest, there wasn’t a lot of gritty Christian crime fiction out there. Now things have changed. Christian writers are penning edgier crime ficiton novels.

I love a gritty crime scene, a lurid murder, a rollicking good autopsy scene. Why would that be?

There’s something in me that cries out for justice for the victim. I can handle a hero who smokes like a chimney and drinks too much, or a heroine who’s not much of a wife and mother. They can have major flaws. If I’m going to be a fan of the book, the one thing the main character must show is a passion for justice for the victim.

 
Some would ask, why do these authors have to tell you every single gory detail of the murder?
 
Well there’s something cathartic in telling the story. Crime victims who go to survivor’s groups like to tell their story, often over and over. It’s healing for them to share the details of the horror, fear, intimidation, and humiliation they’ve been through.

In my writing, I hope I’m an advocate for the crime victim. I strive to create heroes and heroines who demand justice for the victim(s).