A writer of mafia novels can be successful if they can create a believable underworld. For example, Mario Puzo did this extremely well in 'The Godfather'. He painted a detailed picture of the mafia family structure, its hierarchies, and the unwritten rules that govern it.
Good character development is key. The mafia characters in these novels should be complex and multi - dimensional. Readers should be able to understand their motives, whether it's loyalty to the family, greed, or power. Writers also need to create interesting protagonists and antagonists. In many successful mafia crime novels, the anti - hero aspect of the mafia characters makes them both fascinating and repulsive at the same time. This adds depth to the story.
Good character development is crucial. Readers want to be able to relate to or at least understand the motives of the characters, whether they are the criminals or those trying to bring them down. In James Ellroy's works, his characters are complex and multi - dimensional, which makes his stories so engaging.
Mario Puzo is a very famous writer of mafia novels. He wrote 'The Godfather', which is an iconic work in this genre. It has been highly influential, both as a novel and in its various film adaptations.
Often, they have a deep understanding of the criminal underworld. They need to research about the mafia's hierarchy, their codes, and how they operate. For example, Mario Puzo did extensive research for 'The Godfather' to accurately portray the Corleone family.
George V. Higgins is a notable writer too. His novels about the mafia are known for their realistic portrayal of criminal conversations and the inner workings of the mafia. He uses dialogue effectively to show the power dynamics and the shrewdness of the mafia characters.
One well - known writer is Mario Puzo. He wrote 'The Godfather', which is a classic in mafia crime novels. It gives a vivid portrayal of the Corleone crime family.
Many of these novels also deal with themes of loyalty and betrayal. The mafia world is all about loyalty to the family or the organization. But when love enters the picture, loyalties can be tested. In 'Mafia's Redemption', the male lead has to choose between his loyalty to the mafia and his love for the female lead, which makes for a very gripping story.
They also show the hierarchical structure. The bosses are at the top, making decisions, and the lower - level members have to follow orders without question. In many mafia novels, there are descriptions of how power is maintained and transferred within the organization. Like in 'Gomorrah', we see how new leaders emerge and the old ones are either overthrown or die in the process. This shows the cut - throat nature of the mafia world.