The Romantic Suspense Issue
I read a very good review for PITCH BLACK by Susan Crandall at Dear Author. It got me thinking about romantic suspense novels and how we define them. Jane said this in the review:
I do love a good romantic suspense but I’ve often found the balance between the two to be somewhat lacking. Either the book has really good romance but the suspense is light or the suspense is very good but the romance is too light. In recent years, though, it seems that there has been a good collection of romance suspense authors who are striking the right balance and you are definitely one of them.
I totally get that. I know I’ve had trouble with books I believed were going to be romantic suspense…and really weren’t. Well, weren’t in the way that I defined romantic suspense in my head. Then I thought about two of my books: YOUR MOUTH DRIVES ME CRAZY and HOT AS HELL(Brava, Nov. ‘08). Both have a bit of mystery/suspense in them. Neither is what I would consider romantic suspense. HOT AS HELL likely comes closer. A guy is murdered in the heroine’s room at a spa. Needless to say, figuring out why and by whom is a major part of the plot. But the plot really is about how Lexy and Noah, a former engaged couple, got un-engaged and where they go now.
To me, romantic suspense has to meet Jane’s informal definition where there is a balance between suspense and romance. I look at the genre the same way Janes does. I do wonder, however, if some of those books I originally viewed as romantic suspense, where I thought the balance was not quite right, were not really meant to be romantic suspense at all. In other words, was the problem with my pre-conceived notions, the publisher’s marketing campaign or something other than the author’s intent when she wrote the book. If so, I’m not sure how to fix the disconnect. Still, it is worth pondering…
June 5th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
I think there are probably a lot of contemporary romances with a bit of suspense thrown in that are published and promoted as romantic suspenses because RS is hotter than CR right now.
So no wonder there’s confusion.
June 5th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
I agree that there should be a balance between the romance and the suspense to be classified as romantic suspense.
June 5th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
I am always searching for the perfect balance in an RS as well. I like a hot and heavy romance, but a great suspense plot will hook me, too. Hard to find both in the same book.
June 6th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Romantic suspense novels should have a good balance between the two. I read romantic novels when I want light hearted reading. I read mysteries and suspense books when I want just thrilling reading. I like a blend when I am looking for a little of both but not too much of one or the other. It depends on my mood. I like when there is a good balance and I don’t feel slighted by picking the wrong type that leans too heavy one way or the other.
June 9th, 2008 at 12:37 am
I agree with Cindy. The classification or romantic suspense may be overused to try and sell more, and that adds to the confusion about what it really is. So, while I look for a good balance between the romance and the suspense, I’m not sure that’s how the stories really get categorized.