Dawn Klehr | Teen Thrillers vs. Adult Thrillers – Is There a Difference?

Thanks to Jennifer for having me at Fresh Fiction today! I’m so excited to be here talking about thrillers—particularly teen thrillers versus adult thrillers. If you follow my twitter feed, you’ll notice that they are my obsession, both in movies and books. My favorites are those of the psychological variety because I don’t think there is anything more interesting—or, at times, more terrifying—than the human mind.

This topic is especially relevant because my new YA thriller, IF YOU WRONG US, has been called GONE GIRL for teens. Once reviewers began making this comparison, I couldn’t have been happier because I’m a huge Gillian Flynn fan.

So, what’s the difference between the two different types of thrillers? Is it readership? Characters? Subject matter? I think it can be a little of all of the above. But what sets any YA book apart, in my opinion, is the experience of the protagonist. To be considered YA, the main character’s journey should focus on what it means to be a young adult. Just because a book may have a teen hero, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a YA novel. The story really needs to center around the present teen world.

Though GONE GIRL and IF YOU WRONG US both have unstable characters, revenge plots, missing people, and unexpected twists and turns, the characters’ internal and external struggles are very different. With GONE GIRL, the two main characters face uniquely adult situations: losing jobs, midlife concerns, caring for ailing parents, bills, marriage, and the decision about having children. In IF YOU WRONG US, Becca and Johnny are concerned with: fitting in, social dynamics, siblings, sports, friends, their first sexual relationship, homework, and getting into college.

I don’t think the readership necessarily factors in. Of course there are many YA authors who say, “I write for teens!” And they do keep a specific audience in mind. For me, I really don’t. It’s all about my protagonist’s experience. Many adults love reading about the young adult journey. Many teens enjoy stories about adults. Others simply want to read a good book. That’s where I fit in!

If you are looking for recommendations, some thrillers I’ve recently enjoyed are: LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE by Jessica Knoll, THE SILENT WIFE by S.A. Harrison, E. Lockhart’s WE WERE LIARS, and Mathew Quick’s FORGIVE ME, LEONARD PEACOCK. At the moment, I’m reading EVERYTHING I NEVER TOLD YOU by Celeste Ng. I’ll be sure to have updates to that one on Twitter! Happy reading!

About Dawn Klehr

Dawn Klehr is the author of the young adult thrillers: THE CUTTING ROOM FLOOR and IF YOU WRONG US.

She began her career in TV news and though she's been on both sides of the camera, she prefers to lurk behind the lens. Mostly, she loves to get lost in stories -in film, the theater, or on the page - and is a sucker for both the sinister and the sappy. She's currently channeling her dark side as she works on her next book.

Dawn lives in the Twin Cities with her funny husband, adorable son, and naughty dog.

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About IF YOU WRONG US

Becca and Johnny become entangled after a car crash steals the lives of two people they love. Officially, the crash is an accident. But Becca and Johnny are convinced: someone did this?

As they plot revenge against the person responsible, a bond—intense, unyielding, and manic—takes hold of them. And in an unexpected turn of events, they fall for each other?

Or so they think.

In an upside-down world where decay is beautiful and love and hate become one, Becca and Johnny find themselves grappling with reality. Nothing is exactly what it seems, including what they've come to believe about the crash. Question is: will they learn the truth before it's too late?

No. The question is: when they learn the truth, will they care?