Often, the protagonists are inmates serving life sentences. They could be wrongly convicted individuals fighting for their freedom, or they could be hardened criminals with a complex moral code.
In 'the life sentence crime fiction', the protagonists can also be the prison guards. They are in a unique position to observe the inmates' lives. They might be involved in uncovering secrets within the prison, or they could be dealing with their own moral dilemmas regarding the justice system and the inmates they oversee. Sometimes, there are also lawyers or investigators who take on the cases of the inmates as protagonists, trying to either prove their innocence or understand the full story behind their crimes.
Another type of protagonist could be a journalist or a writer who is interested in the stories of those with life sentences. They might enter the prison world to research and expose the truth, or they could get involved in the inmates' lives in unexpected ways. Their outside perspective can bring a different dimension to the story, as they interact with the prison environment and its inhabitants while not being a part of it in the same way as the inmates or guards.
One key feature could be complex characters. In such crime fiction, the characters, especially those serving life sentences, often have intricate backstories that led them to their current situation. Another might be the exploration of the prison environment, which can be a unique and claustrophobic setting for the story to unfold.
Typical protagonists include hackers. They can be either ethical hackers, who use their skills to fight against cyber criminals and protect the digital world, or they can be anti - hero hackers who have their own agendas but end up getting involved in larger cyber wars. Another type of protagonist is the cyber security expert. These are the people who are hired by companies or governments to safeguard their digital assets and often find themselves in the middle of cyber battles.
One of the most memorable is Hercule Poirot. He is a meticulous detective with his own unique methods of investigation. His little grey cells, as he calls his brainpower, are always at work.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is also famous. His Sherlock Holmes stories are iconic in the world of crime fiction. Holmes' brilliant deductive reasoning and the unique cases he solves have made these stories timeless.
Common protagonists are corporate lawyers, financial investigators, and sometimes journalists.
Often, it's an outsider who comes to the town. This could be a young wizard who has lost his way and ends up in the town. He then uses his powers to help build and protect it.
Another type of protagonist could be scientists or adventurers. In a world of giants science fiction, they might be the ones exploring the nature of the giants, trying to understand their biology, culture, or technology. Their curiosity drives them to interact with the giants and uncover the mysteries of this world.
In some 'the mercenary science fiction novel', the protagonist could be a new recruit to the mercenary world. This character is naive at first but quickly learns the ropes. Through their eyes, the readers get to discover the seedy underbelly of the mercenary lifestyle, the unwritten rules, and the cutthroat nature of the business.
Criminals are also typical characters. There are various types of criminals like the mastermind criminals who plan elaborate schemes. And there are also the impulsive ones who commit crimes on the spur of the moment. In many crime novels, we get to see into the minds of these criminals to understand their motives.
Yes, in many ways Magpie Murders is a typical crime fiction. It has a murder mystery at its core, with a detective trying to solve the case. There are suspects, motives, and clues, which are all common elements in crime fiction.