And then in related searches the name of Natsuo Kirino came up. Someone suggested she should try Banana Yoshimoto as well. A friend posted about wanting to read a Murakami novel on Facebook. The reason I picked up Out is quite silly. For example, the book I finished today, Out, is a bit of suspense and a bit of mystery. These are obviously not water-tight categorizations. Basically you know the end, but you read because the thrill of how or when keeps you going. And you read on to see what happens in between, how it happens etc.

A suspense is when you know something is about to happen – like a murderer waiting in the shadows, or a dinosaur about to attack, but the victim or protagonist has no clue.

Now, a suspense novel is something I often confuse with a thriller. Something like a good ol’ Agatha Christie novel. But you also get a point of view from the culprit. In such cases you are usually rooting for the good guys, who can be in danger. Duh! But more seriously, it is a situation where the reader will know who has committed a crime but the chase is what matters. Or the Girl with a Dragon Tattoo.Ī thriller is something which thrills. Think Nancy Drew or Famous Fives from your childhood. Which is in a mystery novel you do not know what happens next – you go along with the protagonist, maybe a detective or the police, to piece together clues and come to the solution along with everyone else. Like, I would say, “Oh, let’s go and watch the new thriller.” Or “I really loved this mystery novel.” It had never occurred that they are actually different genres – overlapping at times – but different.ĭuring a conversation with my movie buff friend, I came to know the basic difference. From Jurassic Park, Lost World, Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train to the most recent acquisition – Out by Natsuo Kirino.īefore I start talking about the book itself, did you know that there is a difference between mystery, thrillers and suspense? I have almost always equated them with each other in day to day conversation. In recent times I have become quite addicted to thrillers and mysteries.

Out kirino book