When I was little, I used to love watching the Investigation Discovery channel. Despite my parents trying to drag me away from it, I kept switching on the channel, and just sitting my butt across the screen. Because of this, whenever I read crime novels, I couldn’t help but ask myself who the killer was, who potentially be a suspect, who the next victim might be. Thrillers such as The Devil in Black Creek, by D.R Bartlette, The Muse, by Arjay Lewis, and Bright, by Mary Paddock, have captured my attention simply because of whether or not the criminal would be caught. 

Still, there are other books that don’t quite fit this mold. Sometimes, the evidence just doesn’t make sense. Other times, the murderer would just pop up out of nowhere. And if the character is the murderer, they’d make fatal mistakes such as leaving the body behind, or not having a proper backstory. As such, when your character is planning on killing somewhere, here are a few tips on how to help them get away with murder. 

Don’t leave the body

Or at least, when your character does, don’t leave any evidence behind. There are times when people are strangled, tortured, and the like, and yet the murderer doesn’t get rid of the body, or even bother removing the evidence. When your character is planning a murder, it’s important to know that they don’t back out. Once they kill the person, they have to go all the way, including the disposal of the body. Murder is not a game, and unless there’s something psychologically wrong with your character, they shouldn’t treat it like one either. 

Get rid of the evidence 

After getting rid of the body, get rid of any evidence that will connect your character with the murder. This can include getting rid of any traces of DNA, whether it be theirs or the victim’s, that links them to the body. It’s also important to make sure that your character kills without anyone around. When they’re luring a victim away from their home, be sure your character does it when you know no one is around. If your character killed and there are other witnesses, they kill the witnesses. 

Have a backstory 

When someone’s asking questions, your character’s going to need a backstory. Just remember to make sure that the story makes sense. You have to take into account your character’s surroundings, their context, and even their psychological reactions. What’s more, you’re going to have to have your character follow that backstory. 

The crime genre is a special kind of thriller/mystery genre that has attracted many different individuals. Whether it be for the gore, or the adrenaline-pumping atmosphere, or even the dark, disturbing world of the crime organization, readers will continue to flock over these stories. However, just make sure you abide by these rules. If you don’t, and your character actually gets away with murder, you can be sure that many readers will be extremely confused.