Diverse voices in crime fiction: Expanding creative narratives with reference to the absence of the teen voice in adult crime fiction

This practice-led creative writing PhD is in two parts. The creative element consists of the adult crime fiction (CF) novel Unseen Evil. This is the sixth book in my DI Gus McGuire police procedural series, set in contemporary Bradford. Through chapters of first person narration from teen characters’ viewpoints, Unseen Evil uses the investigation into a boy’s murder to give voice to diverse teen characters and illuminate issues pertaining to them, with particular reference to digital-age technology. The exegesis contextualises the creative element by interrogating the publishing industry’s commitment to expanding narratives amidst ongoing discussions around diversity and inclusion. Chapter 1 explores the writing process involved in creating Unseen Evil, with specific reference to the wide-ranging influences impacting on creative choices made. Chapter 2 establishes why expansive narratives in the creative industries contribute to a wider understanding of cultural and societal issues and illustrates that inclusion and diversity within the publishing industry is lacking, thus highlighting the importance of increased representation of disenfranchised groups. This chapter demonstrates that the CF genre performs no better than the wider industry in promoting diverse narratives from a diverse representation of authors, and identifies the need to: • recruit employees and authors from diverse groups, • ensure that published narratives are responsibly expansive, • encourage authors, specifically CF authors, to represent within their narratives a diverse cast of characters. Chapter 3 establishes CF as the genre which documents social history and gives voice to disenfranchised and marginalised communities by exploring issues affecting them and giving voice to their lived experiences. However, this chapter also illuminates the absence of teen lived experiences within CF narratives and demonstrates the importance of increasing representation of issues pertaining to teen mental health, criminality, use/misuse of digital technology, and more, within the genre.