In the black police story, an investigator must solve a mystery related to the criminal world.
In the field of literature and cinema , a detective story is a work that focuses on a crime and the search for the person responsible. The idea of noir , on the other hand, is used in this context to refer to the subgenre that is based on crimes and violent or sordid components .
These ideas allow us to move forward with the definition of a noir crime story. This is how we refer to a book or film whose central character is usually a police officer , a detective or another type of investigator who has the mission of solving a mystery linked to the criminal world .
Origins of the noir crime novel
The noir crime novel emerged in the 1920s in the United States and became popular from the 1930s onwards. Authors such as Dorothy B. Hughes and Dashiell Hammett were pioneers in the creation of this kind of stories which, unlike what happens in the classic crime novel, usually take place in marginal environments and with detectives who drag their own miseries and dark points.
One of the most recognizable names in this genre is the British writer Agatha Christie , born in 1890. Her contribution to the crime genre earned her recognition that has transcended time and geographical borders. She began writing at a very young age, always with a deep interest in mystery , and thus came to offer us 66 crime novels, as well as works in other genres, including theater and short stories.
Agatha Christie is one of the leading figures in crime fiction.
Characteristics of the genre
In crime fiction, the investigator does not limit himself to working from his office, but visits the same places as criminals and murderers. That is why he knows the codes that criminals use and can even resort to their practices if necessary.
According to experts, the essence of crime fiction is to depict a society in decline and without values , where behind every crime there is usually a network of political and economic interests. Laws, in this context, tend to take a backseat.
The protagonist's companion in the black police story
One of the most characteristic elements of this genre is the person who accompanies the detective, who usually works with him in a lower- ranking position. It should be noted that this figure is not always male: there are stories starring a female investigator, although given the sexist issues in our societies, they are more modern and less common.
Whether it's a law student in training or another police officer, the companion plays a very important role in the story of a crime thriller because it allows the main character to reflect out loud and receive feedback on his ideas, which often leads him to solve the case . Just as in everyday life, being able to talk to someone about our problems has more than one benefit: we vent, we receive advice and we also take some distance from the conflicts to analyze them with greater objectivity.
The crimes
The weight that crimes acquire in crime novels can be considerable, to the point of casting doubt on the detective's ability to solve the case. They become another character , stalking and tormenting him with their elusive nature. Criminals are usually twisted and very clever, so much so that they leave all the pieces of the puzzle in plain sight of the authorities without them being able to notice them.
One of the skills of criminals, or rather one of the effects of crimes themselves, is to touch the weak point of the investigator . If the story were based simply on the resolution of a case from a technical point of view, it would not be very attractive to the masses; however, when personal traumas and frustrations come into play, which can unearth pains from the past and put the investigation at risk , everything changes.