By Manning Wolfe
Before I
began writing legal thrillers, I asked myself why we love the law and what is
so compelling about civil conflict stories and those involving people in
trouble with authority. I’ve narrowed it down to seven main categories, all of
which have to do with the very essence of romanticism: emotion and individualism. While writing, I
try to keep these in mind so that I am not only telling readers a thrilling
tale, but a deeply satisfying one as well.
1.
Voyeurism
– Everyone likes
to spy on someone engaged in intimate behavior or unaware that they are being
observed. Maybe we don’t all peep into windows, but we eavesdrop on a
conversation at the next dinner table, or find it hard to turn away from a
kissing couple.
2.
Life
or Death Situations
– An attorney, judge, or jury holding someone’s life in their hands is the
height of drama. It is also the pinnacle of helplessness – knowing that one may
do all they can and still come out a loser in a court of law. Sometimes the
threat to the life of a loved one can be even more compelling than the threat
to our own well-being.
3.
Rooting
for the Underdog and Defying the Odds
– We as readers love to root for the underdog in our legal thrillers. Even if the person is a bad guy, if the
author does a good job of making them multifaceted, there’s always something to
like about the villain. Maybe he/she is a victim of their own life
circumstances or simply a dog lover. Once we find that someone stronger
(Goliath) is picking on one who is weaker (David), we find ourselves caught up
in cheering for the underdog until they find their way out of the troublesome
circumstance.
4.
The
Glass is Half Full
- It’s good to be reminded that there’s always someone with worse problems than
ours. Sometimes when life is tough, we enjoy escape into a good thriller and
seeing someone else’s problems as greater than our own. Reading about someone’s
murder trial makes the overdue utility bill or traffic jam seem a little less
stressful.
5.
Hope
for the Future
– We love when the underdog wins or the
fish out of water finds his/her way into a new life or better situation. It reminds us that there is hope for all and
the future has a bright ray of light emanating from it.
6.
Belief
in Justice Prevailing
– Americans, and many other nationalities, have an inbred belief that justice
will prevail. Whether it’s an eye for an eye or Karma, if one lives long
enough, we see that things usually work out and reading a thriller reminds and
reinforces this belief.
7.
Closure – Finally, our minds like things
wrapped up with a tidy bow. We enjoy an ending that if not completely finished
has a sense of finality. We put the book
down with a sigh. Whew – here’s one thing that is complete.
The End
(See, it feels good!)________________________________________________________
Manning Wolfe is an author and attorney residing in Austin, Texas.
She writes cinematic-style, smart, fast-paced thrillers with a salting of Texas bullshit. The first book in
her series featuring Austin Lawyer
Merit Bridges, is Dollar Signs:Texas Lady Lawyer vs Boots King. A
graduate of Rice University and the University of Texas School of Law, Manning’s experience has given her a voyeur’s peek into some
shady characters’ lives and a front row seat to watch the good people who stand
against them. Her social media links are; Website http://manningwolfe.com/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/manning.wolfeTwitter https://twitter.com/ManningWolfe
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