About Emory Cosgrove’s Books

My stories fall within the genre of ‘crime fiction’. This genre is often broken down into various sub-genres: mystery, action, suspense, thriller, et cetera. From an academic standpoint, these distinctions are valid and worthy of study, but in practical terms, an interesting crime story needs to include all of aforementioned elements—and maybe more: romance, pathos, and tragedy.
 
I think of myself simply as a ‘crime writer’ because all of my stories involve a crime (or crimes), and I allow the logic of the story and its characters to determine whether the focus is on mystery, suspense, action, or whatever.
 
For me, the makeup of the characters is the fundamental element of a good story because this is what determines how the players interact with one another. And their interactions determine how the events in the story unfold. In other words, the characters control the plot, not the other way around.

My characters are not James Bond types. Nor are they superheroes with superhuman intelligence or Herculean abilities to withstand physical punishment and resist temptation. I see them as ordinary people with ordinary strengths and weaknesses—like real people whom I have known. Even the villains sometimes have a few redeeming qualities. And more important, the heroes and heroines always have a weakness or two. They manage to overcome obstacles and do extraordinary things because they trust one another and remain true to their commitments. They have what is sometimes called ‘the courage of their convictions’.
 
I hope you enjoy these characters as much as I enjoy writing about them.

Sincerely,

E.C.