Programme Six: Thrillers

Thrilling? Rupert Penry Jones aims a gun

Keeping pages turning

The need for a thrilling plot as well as all the other staples of great novels makes crime writing even more demanding, explains Sarah Dunant.

The last in current series of visits to the Lab is devoted to the tricky task of plotting a thriller.

Crime and thriller writing remain amongst the most popular of all fiction genres, but unlike other kinds of writing, the importance of a tightly - and cleverly - constructed plot is paramount.

Ian and his guide, the crime novelist Natasha Cooper, find out what tips and techniques can help transform a tired and hackneyed plot into one full of suspense and surprise. They hear from experienced writers such as Sarah Dunant and David Armstrong about the methods that can be used to perfect devices such as cliffhangers and plot twists.

Through example and analysis, the programme lays out the four key elements essential for a good thriller plot. Ian finds out why it’s crucial to:

Raise a big and frightening question
Find convincing ways of delaying the answer
Introduce ever-more scary twists and delays to keep the tension high
Reach the resolution, which should surprise and linger in the mind once you put down the novel