Books

Crime tropes

This is the preferred term. Synonyms are included. You can turn off synonyms.

Narrower terms: Deadly game, Heist, Rogue detective, Missing spouse, Inhuman killer, Kidnapping, Hostage situation, Undercover, Organized crime, Dirty cop, Framed for a crime, Bribing the police, Final girl, Killing the Survivors, Spree Killer, Murdered in the forest, Camping murder spree, Killer in plain sight, Amateur detective, Assassination, Rape, Cons and swindles

The Warrior’s Apprentice

by Lois McMaster Bujold

Series:

The Vorkosigan Saga

Genres:

Science fiction and fantasy, Space opera

Tropes:

Coming of age, Cons and swindles, Fealty, Madcap adventures, Politics

Characters:

Character(s) with ADHD

Time Periods:

Long-Term Future

Places:

Military, Outer space

Esmeraldas Blick

by Karoline Toso

Series:

Esmeraldas Blick

Genres:

Historical fiction

Tropes:

Baby acquisition, Doorstop baby, Framed for a crime, Rape, Surprise baby acquisition

Characters:

Adult characters, Child characters, Priests and Clergy

Time Periods:

Places:

Minor Detail

by Adiana Shibli

Series:

Genres:

Historical fiction

Tropes:

Amateur detective, Close-knit community protects their own, Implied Autism, Kidnapping, Loosely based on a true story, Rape

Characters:

Adult characters, Autistic character(s), Journalist, Soldier

Time Periods:

1940-1949, Information Age

Places:

Israel, Palestine, State of Palestine

The Goblin Emperor

by Katherine Addison

Series:

The Goblin Emperor

Genres:

Fantasy, Fantasy of manners, Gaslamp fantasy

Tropes:

Assassination, Dysfunctional family, Fealty, Forgotten heir, Mystery plot, Politics

Characters:

Character(s) with PTSD, Characters in their late teens, Introverted main character(s), Royalty, Straight main character

Time Periods:

Places:

Secondary World

Banana Fish, Vol. 1

by Akimi Yoshida, Matt Thorn (Translator)

Series:

Genres:

Conspiracy thriller

Tropes:

Betrayal, Conspiracy, Fish out of water, Hostage situation, Organized crime

Characters:

Adult characters, American main character, East Asian main character(s), Gangster, Photographer, Teen main character(s)

Time Periods:

Places:

Arsenic and Adobo

A Court of Thorns and Roses

by Sarah J. Maas

Series:

A Court of Thorns and Roses

Genres:

Fairy tale retelling, Fantasy

Tropes:

Beauty and the Beast retelling, Enemies to lovers, Feelings realization, Fish out of water, Forced proximity, Kidnapping

Characters:

Ageless or immortal characters, Artist, Fantasy species characters, Human characters, Huntress

Time Periods:

Places:

Fantastic world

Mass Effect: The Complete Comics

by Jeremy Barlow, John Jackson Miller, Mac Walters

Series:

Genres:

Science fiction

Tropes:

Ensemble cast, Evil AI, Heist, Snarky AI, Spaceship crew

Characters:

Time Periods:

Places:

The Monster Baru Cormorant

by Seth Dickinson

Series:

Genres:

Tropes:

Deadly game, Fish out of water, Road trip, Unreliable narrator

Characters:

Femme fatale, Lesbian main character(s), Morally grey main character, Nonbinary main character(s)

Time Periods:

Places:

Final Girls

Series:

Genres:

Serial killer mystery, Thriller

Tropes:

Betrayal, Camping murder spree, Final girl, Killer in plain sight, Killing the Survivors, Manipulative bastard, Murdered in the forest, Spree Killer, Tragic backstory

Characters:

Character(s) with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Characters in their 20s, Cisgender woman main character(s), Detective, Final girl

Time Periods:

Information Age

Places:

City, Forest, Northeastern United States

Alice Isn’t Dead