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Index
Introduction
1 | Hardboiled Private Detectives
Historical Development of the Private Detective
The Hardboiled Detective in Novels & Films
Genre Conventions
Settings
Iconography
Themes
Tone & Style
Characters
Villain & His Henchman
The Femme Fatale
Allies & Friends
Other Characters
The Private Investigator – How to Hard-boil Your Detective
The Crusader Character Archetype
Plot Structures
Three Acts – Four Quarters Plus Midpoint
The Hardboiled Detective Plot Template
Plot Functions of Characters
2 | Gangsters
Historical Development of the Gangster Story
Gangsters Around the World
Gangster Movies
Characters in the Classic Gangster Story
Hero
Settings
Iconography
Themes
Tone
Gangster Thriller Plot
3 | Crime Sprees & Gun Molls
Plot Structure of the Crime Spree Story
4 | Police Procedural
Police Detective Novels versus Police Procedurals
Historical Development of the Police Procedural
Genre Conventions
Settings
The Hero
The Villain & The Crime
Romantic Co-Protagonist
Other Characters & Character Development
Tone
Themes
The Police Force
Police Procedures
Plot Structure
The Single Case Plot
Multiple Storyline Plot
5 | Forensic Investigation
Historical Development of the Forensic Thriller
Modern Forensics
Genre Conventions
Hero
Villain or Antagonist
Romantic Co-Protagonist
Other Characters
Crime & Conspiracy
Settings
Iconography
Themes
Tone
Forensic Thriller Plot Structure
6 | Serial Killers & Forensic Psychology
History of Criminal Profiling
The FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit
Serial Killers in the Media
Profiling Criminals – The Serial Killer
1. Criminal Investigative Analysis – The FBI Method
2. Investigative Psychology – David Canter
3. Behavioural Evidence Analysis – Brent Turvey
Geographical Profiling
Signature Behaviours
Serial Killer Methods
Four Types of Serial Killer
Serial Killer Victims
Creating the Profile
Victimology – Victim Profiling
Sources of Information About a Victim
Creating a Timeline: The Last 24 Hours
The Victim’s Exposure to Risk
Victim Selection
Vilification & Deification of Victims
The Serial Killer Plot Structure
Four Quarters
Main Characters
7 | Undercover Cops
A Brief History of Undercover Detectives
Themes
Examples
Undercover Cop Thriller Plot
8 | The Heist
Genre Conventions
Examples
The Heist Story Plot Structure
The ‘Pure’ Heist
The Heist & Criminal Conflict Plot
The Heist & Investigation Plot
The Heist & The Conspiracy
9 | Burglars & Thieves
Historical Development
Genre Conventions
Characters
Reformed Thieves
The Thief as Detective
The Thief as Hero
The Burglar Story Plot Structure
The Cat & Mouse Plot
The Thief & The Crime Boss
10 | Confidence Tricks
Historical Development
Famous Con Men
Conmen in Movies
Television Conmen
Characters
Hero – The Con Man or Confidence Trickster
Types of Con Man
Victim – Marks, Suckers, Stooges, Mugs, Rubes & Gulls
Allies – The Shill and the Roper
Mentor
Opposition
Romantic Co-Protagonist
Conspiracy & MacGuffin
Suspense
Stakes
Settings & Iconography
Types of Cons
The Small or Short Con
The Big or Long Con
Themes
Tone
Plot of a Confidence Trick Story
Stages of a Con
Plot Structure of the Confidence Trick Story
11 | Prison Thrillers
Historical Development
Thematic Argument
Characters
Plot Structure
Prison Thriller Plot
12 | Noir Romance
The Femme Fatale
Historical & Literary Precedents of the Femme Fatale
Themes
The Noir Romance Plot
A Plot Variation
13 | Vigilantes & Enforcers
The Vengeance or Revenge Plot
Historical Development & Examples
Thematic Argument
The Vigilante Thriller Plot
The Enforcer Thriller
Plot of the Enforcer Thriller
14 | The Buddy Movie
Historical Development
Buddy Thriller Plot Structure
15 | Informants
16 | Interviewing & Interrogating
Interview versus Interrogation
Interview & Interrogation Techniques
Kinesic Interrogation - The FBI Method
Investigative Interviewing & the PEACE Model
Truth Serum
Hypnosis
Good Cop – Bad Cop
Interviewing Witnesses & Victims
Evaluating Witnesses
Victims of Violent Crime
Witnesses as Victims
False Allegations of Crime
17 | Surveillance & Stake-Outs
Purpose of Surveillance
Fact versus Fiction
Planning & Preparation
Communications
Evidence & Law
Stationary Surveillance – The Stake-Out
Mobile Surveillance – Shadowing
Surveillance on Foot
Surveillance Using Vehicles
GPS Tracking
Electronic Surveillance
Telephone Tapping
Audio Surveillance by Remote Microphone
Bugging
Computer Hacking
Counter-Surveillance
18 | Missing Person Investigation
Long-Term Missing
Recently Missing
Runaways
Child Abductions
Interviewing Neighbours
19 | Murder Investigation
The Murder Scene
Death in the Emergency Room
Pronouncing a Death & Death Certification
Coroners & Medical Examiners
What Happens to the Body?
The Homicide Investigation
Crime Scene Photographs
Search of the Crime Scene
Reconstructing the Crime
Canvassing the Neighbourhood
20| Car Chases
How to Write a Car Chase
Bibliography
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