ARchives
Book Culture explores the world behind the books — what readers want, the DNF trends, tropes, conversations, and BookTok reader behaviors shaping mystery, crime fiction, and psychological thrillers. From genre deep dives to literary travel, this section is all about the culture of reading beyond the page.
Book Culture
Why So Many Crime Novels Now Start With a Lie
Open a new crime novel today, and there’s a good chance the first thing you’re told isn’t true. It’s not...
Book Culture
The Tropes That Make Psychological Thrillers Impossible to Put Down
Behind every gasp, sleepless night, and just-one-more chapter moment in thriller fiction lies a secret weapon–the trope. Crime fiction and...
Book Culture
When Reading Turned Into a Numbers Game
Every January, reading becomes loud. Screens fill with year-end wrap-ups. Bright graphics. Stacked numbers. None of this is new, but...
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Readers Say They Can Spot AI (But Can They Really?)
When bestselling author Freida McFadden addressed online speculation about artificial intelligence in her work, she focused on something deceptively small:...
Book Culture
Are Thrillers Getting Worse? The Truth About Clues, Twists, and Reader Expectations
Even Agatha Christie, the queen of the whodunit, once poked fun at readers for their impossible expectations in the mystery...
Book Culture
Reading rut or reading slump: The Psychology of Burnout for thriller fans
If you’ve been staring at the same book for days, maybe weeks, wondering why your once-reliable reading habit suddenly feels...
Book Culture
The Fine Line Between a Good Book and a Great One
Readers instinctively know when a book crosses the invisible threshold from good to great. The moment it stops merely gripping...
Book Culture
The Culture of Reading Is Changing And It’s Time We Talked About It
From TikTokers and Instagramers to authors, book groups, and publishers, I follow the individuals who shape conversations in the book...
