Strangely enough, April has often been considered to be the start of a violent season. From terrorist attacks to mass shootings, there's a certain horror that April brings, more so than any other month. Perhaps it's because April is usually when the weather starts to get warmer, when the earliest signs of summer come and, as such, the influence that many crises will be committed. Maybe it's because assaults spike during this month, when hate groups begin to rise up, or even because a lot of groups pay tribute to many infamous figures during April.

So, if you're looking to write a horror story this month, or even a thriller novel, look no further than the gruesome examples that April has given us.

The Columbine Shooting
The Columbine mass shooting was one of the most infamous shootings in American history. From allegations of abuse and bullying within the school, to the devastating loss of life that arguably introduced an era of shootings in American schools, there's no doubt that Columbine High School was inevitably the site of tragedy. The two shooters managed to take the lives of 21 students and a teacher, just before committing suicide themselves. After the shooting, many schools implemented new security measures, as well as anti-bullying campaigns that the public hoped would prevent other mass shootings from happening again. There was a call for more gun control measures, which, of course, is still being debated in America today.

An Obsession with Hitler
One of the world’s most infamous men, the instigator of the horrific Holocaust himself. By now, many are familiar with Adolf Hitler’s actions, as well as his blatant disregard for human life. His irrational hatred of the Jews, as well as his manipulative techniques to sway not just Germany, but the entire world, has become that which we hope never to repeat again. His birthday is on April 20th, and has often been used as a day of reverence for white supremacy groups.

Lincoln’s Assassination
Who could forget the moment in history when Abraham Lincoln, the American President during the Civil War, as well the speaker of the Emancipation Proclamation, was assassinated one night in a theater? On April 14th, 1865, John Wilkes Booth had aimed to kill Lincoln and bring him to the Confederate Capital in Richmond. Union soldiers managed to track Booth down, and execute him.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s Assassination
Martin Luther King Jr. was a civil rights icon who gave his famous speech, I Had a Dream. However, he grew infamous in the South, and on April 4th, he was murdered just outside a motel in Memphis, Tennessee. His killer, James Earl Ray, was later caught and sentenced to 99 years.

By no means does this list include every tragedy in April. What’s more, the month also carries religious significance surrounding blood and death. Still, these tragedies lay claim to the otherwise innocent month, and while experts have racked their brains as to why people commit more crimes during this month than any other, there’s no doubt that April is a good month for writers with a darker edge.