The Night Shift

The Night Shift belongs to the mystery, thriller, and crime fiction genres, all of which contain overlapping characteristics. Crime novels conventionally revolve around the apprehension of a criminal by law enforcement, the military, or a vigilante. A prominent theme in this genre focuses on the conflict between good and evil and the idea that crimes must be punished or avenged. Popular crime subgenres include noir, military, and true crime fiction. By contrast, mystery novels typically reveal a crime, then require the protagonist to work backward to identify who committed it. Within this framework, the criminal will remain unknown for most of the story. The protagonist usually plays the role of detective and must navigate such traditional plot twists as cover-ups, multiple suspects, and a real-time pursuit of the criminal. Thriller novels differ from both crime novels and mystery novels in that they focus on an attempt to avert a future crime, and this structure is designed to evoke a sense of suspense and dread. In such storylines, the author may reveal the criminal’s identity early in the narrative, then create suspense around the protagonist’s effort to stop him or her from committing a heinous act. Beneath the larger umbrella of thriller novels lie subgenres such as horror thrillers, legal thrillers, psychological thrillers, and epic thrillers (“Mystery, Thriller, and Crime Novels: What’s the Difference?” MasterClass, 3 Sep. 2021).

Within the typical thriller novel, the crime in question is not a small one, but one that suggests a “master villain” such as a serial killer or a brilliant manipulator (“The 10 Things Every Thriller Novel Needs.” Savannah Gilbo). The criminal’s goal or object of desire—the device that drives the plot forward—is commonly called a MacGuffin, a term that was coined by screenwriter Angus MacPhail and later popularized by famed filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock. Both clues and red herrings abound as the protagonist attempts to thwart or apprehend the criminal. Thriller novels often include a tense and urgent timeline, a false sense of finality, and a deceptive antagonist who hides their true nature.

The psychological thriller is a subgenre of the broader thriller genre and focuses on character development, plot twists, and moral conflicts, while the characters’ fear and anxiety create much of the suspense. Novels in the psychological fiction genre often include psychologically troubled characters and can even be told from their perspective. Common themes of psychological thrillers include violent death, issues of identity and the mind, and the tension between perception and reality. Some notable authors of psychological thrillers include Henry James, Gillian Flynn, and Stephen King.