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Index
Introduction
Genre Conventions
Plot Conventions
Theory & Practical Application
The History of the Thriller Genre
Cut to the Chase
1 | Innocent on the Run
Basic Structure – Three-Acts, Four Quarters
Innocent on the Run Plot structure
Genre Conventions
(i) The Hero
(ii) The Villain
(iii) The Conspiracy or Criminal Intent
(iv) The MacGuffin
(v) The Romantic Co-Protagonist
(vi) Setting
(vii) Iconography
(viii) Themes
(ix) Tone
(x) Secondary Characters
Innocent on the Run Thrillers – 10 Examples
2 | Secret Agent
Historical Development
The Creation and Evolution of James Bond
Four Quarters plus Midpoint
Eight Sequences
(i) The Hero
(ii) The Villain
(iii) The Conspiracy
(iv) The MacGuffin
(v) Romantic Co-Protagonist
(vi) Settings
(vii) Iconography
(viii) Themes
(ix) Tone
(x) Other Characters
3 | The Conspiracy
Conspiracy Theories
Betrayal of Trust
The Appeal of Conspiracy Theories
‘Good’ Conspiracy Theories versus ‘Bad’ Ones
4 | Suspense
What is Suspense?
Foreshadowing
Audience Expectations
Danger Zone
Reader Participation
Defining Suspense
How is Suspense Created?
(1) Unresolved Situations
(2) Uncertainty of Outcome
(3) Probability of Outcomes
(4) Delayed Outcome
(5) Affinity for the Protagonist
(6) Disparity of Knowledge – Dramatic Irony
(7) Helplessness
(8) High Stakes
Why Do We Enjoy Suspense?
Techniques for Creating Suspense
Audience Participation
Anticipation
Jeopardy
Delayed Outcomes
Probable Outcomes
Misdirection – Red Herrings
Reversing Audience Expectations
Spontaneous Suspense
Suspense and Viewpoint
Event Order
Running Out of Options
Techniques for Increasing Suspense
5 | What’s at Stake?
Jeopardy
Suffering
Sacrifice
Establishing What’s at Stake
Personal Stakes
Societal Stakes
Authorial Stakes
Raising the Stakes
6 | ‘Expert’ Thrillers
Expert Thriller Authors
Expert Thriller Story Content
7 | Espionage Thriller
What is an Espionage Thriller?
The Appeal of the Espionage Thriller
Historical Development of the Espionage Thriller
The Espionage in Espionage Thrillers – Gadgets & Tradecraft
The Spy Writer Spy
Genre Conventions
Secret Agents & Double Agents
(i) The Hero
(ii) The Villain
(iii) Conspiracy
(iv) The MacGuffin
(v) The Romantic Co-Protagonist
(vi) Settings
(vii) Iconography
(viii) Themes
(ix) Tone
(x) Other Characters
Espionage Thriller Plots
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
8 | Political Thriller
What is a Political Thriller?
Historical Context
Is There Still an Audience?
Historical Development of the Genre
Genre Conventions
Themes
Iconography
Model Plots
(i) Assassination Thriller
(ii) Political Conspiracy / Cover-up Thriller
(iii) Terrorism Thriller
(iv) Hostage Thriller
9 | Legal Thriller
What is a Legal Thriller?
The Appeal of the Legal Thriller
Historical Development of the Legal Thriller
The Law in Legal Thrillers
Everything I Know About the Law I Learned from the Movies
The Lawyer-Author
Writing Legal Arguments
Genre Conventions
The Lawyer-Hero
The Lawyer-Villain
Conspiracy
The Romantic Co-Protagonist
Settings
Iconography
Other Characters
Themes
Legal Thriller Plots
The Structure of a (Fictional) Courtroom Trial
The Legal Defence Thriller – Presumed Innocent & Jagged Edge
The Legal Prosecution Thriller – The Rainmaker
X | The Medical Thriller
What is a Medical Thriller?
The Appeal of the Medical Thriller
The Historical Development of the Medical Thriller
The Medicine in Medical Thrillers
The Non-Fiction Medical Thriller
Writing the Medical Thriller
Genre Conventions
Conspiracy
Characters
Locations
Iconography
Themes
The Medical Conspiracy Thriller Plot
The ‘Outbreak’ Thriller Plot
11 | Techno-thriller
What is a Techno-thriller?
The Appeal of the Technology Gone Wrong Thriller
The Appeal of the Military Techno-Thriller
The Technology in the Techno-thriller
The Historical Development of the Techno-thriller
Themes: ‘Technology Gone Wrong’ Thrillers
Themes: Military Techno-Thrillers
Techno-Thriller Plot 1: The Military Techno-Thriller
Techno-Thriller Plot 2: The Technology Gone Wrong Thriller
12 | The Psychological Thriller
What is a Psychological Thriller
The Conspiracy
Themes
The Psychology in the Psychological Thriller
The Psychoanalysis Thriller
Themes
Iconography
Plot Structure
The Amnesia Thriller
The Appeal of the Amnesia Thriller
Historical Development
The Amnesia in Amnesia Thrillers
Themes
Plot Structure of the Amnesia Thriller
The Stolen Identity Thriller
The Forced Identity Change Thriller
Themes
Iconography
Plot Structure
The Woman in Jeopardy Thriller
Historical Development
Plot Structure
The Stalker Thriller
The Psychology of Stalkers
Historical Development
Plot Structure
Alternative Stalker Plots
13 | Manhunt – The Chase
Hunter or Hunted
Martial Arts and Parkour Movie Sequences
More Examples
Point of View
The Risk Involved in Writing Chase Scenes
The Pursuit Plot
How to Write a Chase Scene or Sequence of Scenes
How to Write a Chase Novel or Screenplay
Expert on the Run
Band on the Run
14 | Bourne, Langdon & Reacher
Robert Ludlum’s Jason Bourne
Dan Brown’s Robert Langdon
Lee Child’s Jack Reacher
Bibliography
General References and Chapters 1, 2 and 5
Conspiracy (Chapter 3)
Suspense (Chapter 4)
Expert Fiction / Fiction à Substrat Professionnel (Chapter 6)
Espionage Thriller (Chapter 7)
Political Thriller (Chapter 8)
Legal Thriller (Chapter 9)
Medical Thriller (Chapter 10)
Techno-Thriller (Chapter 11)
Psychological Thriller (Chapter 12)
The Manhunt / Chase Thriller (Chapter 13)
Bourne, Langdon & Reacher (Chapter 14)
Acknowledgments
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