What elements do you think are needed for five star rated Crime/Detective/Mystery/Thrillers?

[Eric]

As a reader, what elements do you find most likely ensure a crime/thriller/detective/mystery book to be a five-star rated novel? Also, which elements do you think writers could include more?

Lately, I've noticed some of the better police procedurals tend to be very matter-of-fact in their delivery and often leave out the gallows humor found in this type of world. Still, I think some of the most successful novels, such as Jussi Adler-Olsen's Department Q books, include this gallows humor without making it seem contrived or gratuitous. Joseph Wambaugh is also very good at adding humor, even in the most troubling of plots.

I don't think too many readers will disagree that compelling characters and plots are needed, which includes the success of the writer to make the reader really care about those characters in a book.

Others?

[Skye]

Eric, I think this is all subjective; for instance, I love to read and learn about characters, especially unreliable characters. I also love a plot that keeps me guessing, but every 'good-enough' book is different and each reader approaches a novel with his/her own expectations. One thing that is very important to me is language and the crafting of syntax. Too much description turns me off.

[Sandy]

Besides the obvious like smart, well paced, realistic dialogue, etc, it has to be plausible. As soon as a character does something that jumps the shark (ie. really stupid or completely unlikely in terms of police procedure, etc.) you've lost me.

[Charlene]

For me, the story needs to be about something important and/or really interesting - and what happens to the key characters has to matter. Books set during WWI or II might fit the bill or present-day ones dealing with an issue like climate change. On the other hand, the author has to avoid being preachy or boring. It's a hard balance.

[Melanie]

Caring about the characters is vital. A balance between beautifully written description and dialogue is important as well - too much of either can become tedious. Short sentences and chapters are a personal preference and I love it when the scene changes just as something really exciting is happening. Arthur Hailey did this in his books.

Above all, being drawn in from the first moment and engaged in the story until the end (and remembered long afterwards) would gain a 5*.

[MaryJo]

For myself, if the book is well written, well edited, and the author has made the story - fiction or non-fiction - an interesting read, I will give it 4 stars. What does it take for me to rate it as a 5? That I love the book! And that is so subjective. Someone else might find it not to their taste at all.
3 stars means I found it worthwhile to finish and enjoyed it in spite of issues.

[Kirsten]

Characters you engage with, action that surprises you, and being left with a sense that you need to see these people again!

[Melanie]

Gail wrote: "Relevant dialogue and description, plot twists that are impossible to guess, energy between characters, lots of dialogue, preferably some of it is funny, and a unique and intriguing plot line. That..."

Oh yes, plot twists and some humour - absolutely!