In crime fiction, drunks are often depicted as unreliable witnesses. Their alcohol - induced haze makes their recollections of events suspect. For example, in many classic detective stories, a drunk might claim to have seen something important, but the detective has to sift through their muddled account to find the truth.
Sometimes, drunks in crime fiction are victims themselves. Their drunken state makes them vulnerable targets. They might be robbed or assaulted while inebriated. In certain crime stories, a drunk's misfortune serves as the starting point for the detective to uncover a larger web of criminal activity, like a series of muggings targeting drunkards in a particular neighborhood.
Drunks can be used as red herrings in crime fiction. They may be found near the crime scene, acting erratically, leading investigators to initially suspect them. However, as the story unfolds, it turns out they are just inebriated bystanders with no real connection to the crime. For instance, in some noir - style novels, a drunk stumbling around an alley where a murder occurred becomes an early focus of the police investigation only to be cleared later.
They can be sources of information. Despite their drunkenness, they might have overheard something important that could be a key to solving the crime.
In crime fiction, insurance can be a key plot device. It often serves as a motive for crime. For example, a character might kill someone to collect on a large insurance policy. It can also be a red herring, making the reader suspect that the insurance - related aspect is the main cause of the crime when it's actually something else.
Often, spiders are depicted as sinister elements. They might be associated with the lair of the villain, lurking in dark corners of abandoned buildings where crimes are planned.
One famous drunk in fiction is Jack Torrance from 'The Shining'. His alcoholism plays a major role in his descent into madness while he's isolated in the Overlook Hotel. Another is Randle McMurphy from 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'. He often uses alcohol as a form of rebellion against the strict asylum environment.
In fiction, gardens can be depicted as scenes of crime and trysts in various ways. For crime, a garden might be a place where a murder occurs under the cover of its bushes and trees. The seclusion of a garden makes it an ideal spot for a criminal to hide evidence or carry out a devious act unnoticed. As for trysts, lovers may meet in a garden because of its beauty and privacy. It offers a romantic setting away from prying eyes, where secret meetings and passionate encounters can take place.
Well, 70s New York in crime fiction was a world full of seedy underbellies. The era's crime fiction frequently highlighted the drug - related crimes that were rampant. The streets were filled with shady characters, from drug dealers to mobsters. It was also a time when racial tensions were high, and this was often incorporated into the crime narratives. Writers would use the city's diverse neighborhoods, like Harlem or the Bronx, to set the stage for their crime - filled tales.
Well, many of them are self - destructive. For example, like Jack Torrance in 'The Shining', their drinking leads them down a path of madness. They often use alcohol as an escape from reality, just as Blanche DuBois does in 'A Streetcar Named Desire'.
In crime and punishment novels, disease can be depicted in various ways. Sometimes it serves as a symbol of the moral decay within a society. For example, in some novels, a spreading epidemic might parallel the spread of immoral behavior or corruption among the characters. It can also be used to create an atmosphere of gloom and despair, making the setting more conducive to the dark deeds and moral dilemmas that are often central to these types of novels.
Cell phones are often depicted as tools for both criminals and investigators. Criminals may use them to plan and execute crimes, while investigators use them to gather evidence.
In some crime novels, it may be used as a shock factor or to add a sense of deviance to a character. For example, it could be part of a sordid backstory for a villain, showing their immoral or abnormal behavior.