Why do we pay good money to sit on the edge of our seats and watch a thriller like Silence of the Lambs? Or reread a book by Forsyth or Dan Brown? Thrillers are one of the most popular genres of books sold around the world. And that’s without including the horror genre ― movies like Poltergeist or books written by Stephen King and his tribe.

Here’s a look at some of the reasons for this eternal appeal of thrillers:

1. The good guys win in the end, reinforcing our moral sense that virtue should be rewarded and our hope that, if we are good and refrain from the bad, we will make it through to the end credits.
2. We get a vicarious thrill when we read or watch a thriller. We release strong emotions like hate and fear that are normally repressed, thereby experiencing a catharsis. Can there be anything better than getting back to our everyday world after watching a movie about a psycho-fiend, or reading about a killer taking out the little old ladies in a village?
3. There’s one for everyone. If international intrigue is not your thing, there’s drama in the courtroom or in royal courts. We have legal thrillers, psycho thrillers, crime thrillers, spy thrillers, romantic thrillers, historical thrillers…. Just pick your poison.
4. Thrillers take us on a rip-roaring ride into a world where a single cop or whistle-blower can put an end to unspeakable horrors. Isn’t that the kind of Rambo act that we’d like to perform when we come face to face with monsters each time we open the newspaper or watch television?
5. We pit our brains against the bad man and win. The villain may be a stalker, a traitor, a man with super evil powers. But along with the hero, we uncover red herrings, puzzle out clues and solve the whodunit. Then we pop the champagne as the villain goes up in flames, as we too had a role to play.
6. The dark, twisted ‘what-if’ situations give us an adrenaline high. What if an anaconda slithered in through our window? What if a mad priest plans to poison our city’s water as he thinks everyone is possessed? Our mind loves to explore the delicious possibilities of what could happen if the world went crazy.
7. The most unforgettable movies are thrillers. Now, who can forget The Dark Knight, The Godfather, The Departed or Diehard? How many of us would choose them every time instead of watching one of those lame, candy floss movies? ‘Yay’ for the adrenaline junkies!

So bring on those high-octane, slash and burn adventures. But first, check that all your doors and windows are locked. We don’t want an unwelcome visitor do we? Do write in to tell me about your most favourite thriller of all time ― what gets your blood roaring and what leaves you cold.  I’m waiting to hear from you.

Click here to read my short story One Crazy Day in the Life of a Teenager and tell me what you think.