Modus Operandi: A Writer's Guide To How Criminals Work

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Overview

Detectives Corvasce and Paglino provide writers with the facts they need to give thier mystery and detective novels necessary grit and authenticity. Writers will learn how criminals carry out murder, arson, smuggling, armed robbery, safecracking, and more.

Writers will see how to create cunning criminals who still leave clues protagonists can follow. The authors explain how law-breakers perform the dirty deeds of murder--from contract killers to seemingly ordinary people--armed robbery, arson, smuggling, white collar crime, prostitution, and more.

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Overview

Detectives Corvasce and Paglino provide writers with the facts they need to give thier mystery and detective novels necessary grit and authenticity. Writers will learn how criminals carry out murder, arson, smuggling, armed robbery, safecracking, and more.

Writers will see how to create cunning criminals who still leave clues protagonists can follow. The authors explain how law-breakers perform the dirty deeds of murder--from contract killers to seemingly ordinary people--armed robbery, arson, smuggling, white collar crime, prostitution, and more.

Editorial Reviews

From Barnes & Noble
You can't have a mystery without a criminal of some sort, and in order to create a realistic bad guy you need to understand how he or she will work and think. Modus Operandi: A Writer's Guide to How Criminals Work tells you everything you need to know about murderers, arsonists, thieves, smugglers, and even prostitutes. Whether you're creating an embezzling accountant or a serial killer, this book can provide you with all the details you need to make your villain leap off the page into reality. While you're at it, get a peek into the criminal mind with Malicious Intent: A Writer's Guide to How Murderers, Robbers, Rapists, and Other Criminals Think and learn how to create memorable villains.

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781582971377
  • Publisher: F+W Media, Inc.
  • Publication date: 12/28/1995
  • Pages: 228
  • Sales rank: 556,733
  • Product dimensions: 6.00 (w) x 9.00 (h) x 0.52 (d)

Table of Contents

Introduction 1
1 Arsonists: Examining the most underreported of all crimes 5
2 Art, Antique and Jewel Thieves: The ugly business of stealing beautiful things 18
3 Carjacking, Hijacking, Skyjacking and Auto Theft: The methods and reasons behind modern-day piracy 30
4 Con Artists: The art of swindling 57
5 Counterfeiters and Forgers: Stealing a free ride on someone else's hard work or ideas 76
6 Fencing: Converting stolen goods into cash 90
7 Homicide: Determining the manner and cause of death 98
8 Kidnapping: One of the most terrifying and cruel crimes committed against another human being 118
9 Prostitution: As long as there are people willing to pay for sex, there will be people willing to sell it 130
10 Armed Robbery: Using force to get anything you want 143
11 Safecracking and Lockpicking: Overcoming security obstacles and precautions 155
12 Smuggling: Trafficking vice worldwide 170
13 Shoplifters: An increasingly popular crime among "normal" people 181
14 Whitecollar Crime and Money Laundering: Committing crimes with and against businesses 193
Index 213

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