The killer-profiler relation in thriller novels

Contents

1. Introduction

2. Basic differences

3. Basic similarities

4. Physical and mental effects on the profiler
4.1 The Body Farm
4.2 Point of Origin
4.3 Killing the Shadows

5. Action/reaction and personal motive of the killer
5.1 The Body Farm
5.2 Point of Origin
5.3 Killing the Shadows

6. Conclusion

7. Bibliography

1. Introduction

The relation between the hero, often a forensic profiler or behavioural psychologist, and the killer is one of the key elements in many thriller novels. The other parts of the story are put around these two interdependent characters.

Even if they are completely unrelated in the beginning of the book, one can presume that in the developing story the killer will be a threat to the profiler himself/herself or a person near to him/her, which makes for the personal connection.

In this paper, I will try to analyse the psychological effects of this special bonding, primarily focusing on the profiler. When looking at the killer, I will mainly describe the reaction to the interference of the profiler and partly, hence, the personal motive. The analysis is based on The Body Farm and Point of Origin by Patricia Cornwell, and Killing the Shadows by Val McDermid.

The main characters in the books mentioned are heroines that deal with criminals, and especially serial killers, professionally. Dr. Kay Scarpetta (Cornwell) is a forensic pathologist (and lawyer); Dr. Fiona Cameron (McDermid) is an academic psychologist, doing geographical crime linkage. Being experts in their fields respectively, they assist the police and other law enforcement agencies in their investigations.

Before describing the effects of their occupancy on their personal lives in more detail, I will compare the two characters and their surroundings in general. This provides background information one needs to further interpret their reactions to the events within the story.

2. Basic Differences

Apart from their respective style of writing, Cornwell’s and McDermid’s novels differ in some basic elements. To name the most obvious ones, there are different settings, different professions, and personalities of the two main characters. Cornwell’s stories take place in the Upland South and the Mid-Atlantic region of the USA, while McDermid’s are situated in Great Britain. Kay Scarpetta and Fiona Cameron occupy similar but different professions, which in part could be an explanation for their differing personality as well.

Cameron seems to be less blunted by her job than Scarpetta. She lives a stable life with her lover Kit Martin, her personal tragedy lying more than a decade in the past. Back then, her younger sister was murdered by a serial killer, which eventually led her to becoming a psychologist, helping the police to find out about the potential domiciles of killers, through geographical crime linkage. She seems to be very involved with her work, being very analytic and logical while working a case. From time to time, she feels guilty for her sister’s death. Nevertheless, she is able to enjoy her life aside from work in many ways.

It appears to be not as easy to Scarpetta. Her life is more concentrated on her job than Cameron’s is. Her past tragedy, her husband was coincidently killed by a bomb attack, together with her job as a pathologist and chief medical examiner seem to have left her with a lack of emotion. She acts even more analytic and logical than Cameron does. However, she keeps this cool rationality even in her private life. There are not many circumstances where her emotions overwhelm her, and when they do, she still is far more rational. Not only is her own life more unstable than Cameron’s, but also the people around her do not seem to get along very well with their lives.

In addition, the killers in the three books commit their crimes out of very individual motives, which can be divided into different levels of ‘personalization’.

I will deal with them in chapter 5.

3. Basic Similarities

Despite the differences mentioned above, one may notice some similarities too.

Most obvious is the female hero, adapting a relatively dominant role, which would be classically male. This can be recognized all through the books, but especially when Cameron’s lover and Scarpetta’s niece become the killers’ targets. Then they take over the role of the protectors. This can be traced back psychologically to their respective losses in the past, which have left them both with a feeling of helplessness and guilt. This is now ‘compensated’ by a slightly pathological fear and responsibility for their loved ones.

It is very important to realise this in order to interpret their behaviour in the novels and the effects on them in a proper context.

Another issue is their profession, which is at least then similar to each other, when one concerns their work in cooperation with the police or the FBI. Their jobs are not likely to be pleasant ones if one takes in consideration that when they are helping the law enforcement institutions, it has usually to do with killers. Considering their traumas in addition, one could get the impression of as well a self-sacrificial as a compensating character of their work.

4. Psychosomatic and mental effects on the profiler

Both authors, Cornwell and McDermid, draw quite credible pictures of their main characters.

They are psychologically accurate in their description, which means that the two protagonists act and feel very lifelike.

As the profilers in these cases have already been in their business for some time, it is very interesting to look at their mental states. Through their work, they are confronted with things that can affect a human being in several ways. This has to be considered, when one begins to interpret their actions and reactions. Those seem to be altered and are tending to be rather extreme, leading to overreactions as well as to insensitivity.

I will try to describe and interpret some typical examples of the profilers’ behaviour in the given three books.

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