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ABSTRACT
Interdisciplinary studies are the norm in this fast-paced world where everything is connected and nothing can stake its claim to an independent existence. Popular literature has often drawn flak for being sensational and merely entertaining. Consequently, crime fiction writers have often been overlooked and their craft has long been disregarded by literary critics. However, contemporary crime fiction has moved on from redundant plot twists and weak characterisation. Criminal psychology and profiling have been enjoying new found popularity owing to its portrayal in popular media. Through a combination of these two spheres of popular interest, this paper aims to dispel some myths surrounding the limits of profiling and make it a viable medium that could critique and guide the creative process by which a good crime fiction is formed. This work focuses upon applying the science of crime scene profiling and offender profiling to the fictional crime scenes and offenders depicted in crime fiction. The analysis is performed upon two novelsThe Devotion of Suspect X (2011) and Malice (2014)- authored by Keigo Higashino, which are taken as being representative of the genre of crime fiction. The central idea is to establish a scientific cornerstone that can support textual analyses of crime fiction and consequently generate more interest around the combination of these two disciplines.
Keywords
Crime Scene Profiling; Offender Profiling; Staging; Criminal Psychology; Crime Fiction; Victim; Premeditation
Introduction
Criminal psychology, being a budding field, may lack well fleshed out theories and often many of the existing theories and practices attract criticisms, with many even questioning its application to solve a case. However, criminal psychology is just one of the many tools that could aid an official investigation. It does not claim to be infallible and to put things under better perspective, the reader must always be aware that fallibility cannot be avoided in a field which focuses upon the dynamic and mysterious human mind. If anything, criminal profiling and application of criminal psychology complements a conventional investigation. It can reaffirm hard evidence and help formulate plausible motives for a crime. The application of criminal psychology complements physical evidence and corroborates the statements of witnesses. In such cases where there is an absence of clear incriminating evidence, criminal profiling can open up new pathways for...