Crime Fiction in the Age of #MeToo

“Comprehensive and smart, a welcomed gem in crime fiction and feminist cultural studies! Interrogating the genre through the double lens of fourth-wave feminism and the #MeToo movement, this book is indispensable for scholars and anybody interested in contemporary crime fiction as it offers original perspectives, indeed opening up new directions for scholarship on crime writing.” —Carolina Miranda, Adjunct Research Fellow, Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand . “Beyer’s structurally innovative book is driven by the convergence of contemporary crime writing, fourth-wave feminism, and the #MeToo movement. This investigative framework places contemporary texts in productive tension with canonical works, advancing our insights into the dynamism of genre writing while offering fresh critiques of earlier texts. Persuasively argued, clearly written, and placed firmly in the context of key texts of criticism, this book demonstrates the power of genre writing to directly address timely concerns and to advocate actively for change.” —Dr. Rebecca Martin, Professor (Emerita) of English, Pace University, New York, USA . “Covering a wide range of authors from Agatha Christie to Val McDermid and extremely pertinent themes such as #MeToo, rape culture, toxic masculinity, and representations of LGBTQ+ and transgender, Beyer offers a timely, pithy and cutting-edge reappraisal of crime fiction. Fourth-wave feminism informs this essential read for crime fiction scholars.” —Sam Naidu, Professor of Literary Studies in English, Rhodes University, South Africa. “This short, persuasive book productively brings together fourth-wave feminism, the #MeToo movement, and crime fiction to make the case that the genre now offers the powerful possibility of advocating for specifically feminist social change. Especially insightful is Beyer’s use of older texts against contemporary examples that represent fourth-wave themes, including progressive understanding of transgender.” —Maureen T. Reddy, Professor Emerita, English, Rhode Island College, USA . “In Crime Fiction in the Age of #MeToo, Beyer utilizes the framework of fourth-wave feminism to address crime fiction in the age of #MeToo and, in doing so, contributes to an important and ongoing conversation. Her study calls much-needed attention to the diverse ways that contemporary crime fiction engages with cultural concerns that have been brought to the forefront by the kinds of conversations and political engagement that the #MeToo Movement has ushered in.” —Heather Durre Humann, Florida University, USA.