The Scales of Fiction: Why I Write Crime

Finding Justice the Real World Often Forgets

I’m drawn to crime fiction because it allows me to fix a fundamental glitch in reality. In the real world, far too many stories end in silence—victims are left without answers, and families are left without closure.

But within the borders of my fictional world, I hold the gavel. I can weave threads of hope into the darkest narratives and ensure that justice isn’t just a concept, but a reality. I love exploring the nuance of that "win," though; true justice usually demands a steep price from the hero.

However, there is nothing more deeply satisfying than ensuring the antagonist finally has to pay the piper, proving that while the moral arc of the universe is long, in my stories, it bends toward accountability.

In your favorite books, do you prefer a "perfect" happy ending, or do you find a bittersweet victory more realistic?