Must read Classic Noir Books

There are few genres or styles as enduring and iconic as noir, with the pulp detectives, femme fatales, and conspiracies that invariably go all the way to the top. These are some of the genre’s foundational classics.

The Killer Inside Me by Jim Thompson

Not only a definitive work of noir fiction but also a book that has become the template for so many pop culture depictions of the mind of a serial killer. This tale of small-town murder is a grisly and twisty narrative that also digs deep into the mind of an all too human monster.

The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett

One of the genre’s true masters at his absolute finest, this famously adapted work is the quintessential noir text. Containing all the elements and styles that would give the genre its feel and legacy, it was also based on much of Hammett’s own experiences working for the infamous Pinkerton agency.

The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M Cain

With an iconic setup, that would become a template for many a future noir writer, this was a book that hooked many, even if it did earn some controversy at the time for its stark depictions of sex and violence. A beautifully written and quick-paced story of lust, greed, and murder, it also helped define the classic noir ending, one that was anything but happy.

If you’re a fan of classic noir, or just simply looking for a mystery to unravel, head over to www.mediazenn.com. Where they have an enthralling selection of mystery eBooks and audiobooks for your reading pleasure.

Truth is stranger than fiction: Three crime novels inspired by real-life events

Skilled crime novelists require an active imagination among all the other traits of being a successful writer. However, when it comes to inspiration, they are very often inspired by real-life events. That’s understandable, especially when you consider the oft-repeat saying that ‘truth is stranger than fiction’ and see all the true crime TV shows which have cropped up over the last decade or so.

Of course, many readers may be unaware of the true stories behind many of their favorite mystery novels. Here are a few books which have been inspired by real-life events which you may not know about.

Murder On The Orient Express by Agatha Christie

When you consider the legendary output of the acclaimed doyen of mystery and crime literature, it’s no surprise that Agatha Christie drew from real events to inspire her work. In Murder on The Orient Express, Christie used her own experiences of riding the train and noted its layout and design. At the time of writing, the news of the kidnap of the Lindbergh baby was everywhere and Christie was influenced by that when she penned her classic whodunit tale.

The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy

A classic detective tale of murder and deception, Ellroy’s story of the murder of a young girl in Los Angeles had its roots in a real-life story of an aspiring actress who has found dead in the 1940s, prompting a widespread police investigation across California.

Little Deaths by Emma Flint

A single mother is suspected of killing her two young children, but an investigative reporter believes there’s more to the story than meets the eye. The novel is inspired by the real-life events in New York in the 1960s when two young children are found dead during a heatwave.

For more mystery books which have been inspired by real life check out www.mediazenn.com.

Mysteries of Ancient Egypt

Depicted in television and movies for decades, the world has formed its opinion in regards to the ancient Egyptians, who they were, how they lived, and what they looked like. Yet for all the speculation, much information is still in doubt when it comes to the ancient Egyptians, and many of their greatest mysteries remain unsolved to this day. Here are just three of the many unsolved mysteries of ancient Egypt.

The Pyramids. The size and scale of structures such as the Egyptian pyramids would certainly be impressive benchmarks for any society, but what’s baffling about the ancient Egyptians is that they built their pyramids with none of the technological advancements of today. Historians and archaeologists alike still struggle with questions of who built these pyramids and how they were built.

The death of King Tut. Tutankhamun came into power at the age of 9 or 10, making him the youngest pharaoh to ever rule over ancient Egypt. His death, however, also came at an incredibly young age, when he was a mere 19 years old. King Tut’s death has been shrouded in mystery not only due to his young age at the time of his death, but due to the very many things wrong with his body, which could lead to several conclusions regarding cause of death.

The disappearance of Queen Nefertiti. One of the few women to have ruled over ancient Egypt, Nefertiti’s body has remained unaccounted for to this day unlike many other pharaohs of ancient Egypt. Only adding to the mystery, there is no recording of her death in Egyptian history.

Looking for more mystery? Check out the wide variety of books and more available at www.mediazenn.com.

How To Write A Credible Character Arc: Part I

Best Adventure Novels On Mediazenn

Adventure novels have made its place in the entire industry. However, not all novels are similar or not all has that same essence. Mediazenn is a platform where you can access number of genres without any hassle. Below are some best adventure novels till date.

• The Odyssey by Homer: The magical adventures that took place with Cyclops and Polyphemus, the Sirens, Circle and the trip to the underworld. This book is rather a poem instead of an adventure that is beautifully crafted by Homer and translated by Robert Fagles. It takes us to a different world and the magical words of Robert feels so soothing to take us together towards the idea of “Homecoming”.

• Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift: This adventure novel has been rated as social satire. Jonathan Swift uses inherited tropes to mock the religion, science, human nature, politics with optimism throughout the journey. The story enables us to be with Jonathan Swift with the beautiful expression of words in the entire story.

• King’s Solomon’s Mines by H. Rider Haggard: This is a wonderfully strange book by Haggard. Three English men go in search of mines with the help of an ancient map fully drowned in blood. They come across a lost kingdom and discover a hoard of riches in a hidden cave. It becomes racist at times but the story manages to engage its readers throughout and is an extraordinary book.

Explore bulk of adventure books on Mediazenn and unravel the adventure.

Plenty Of Magic, Adventure And Suspense : The Prince Of Lies By Anne Lyle

Elizabethan spy Mal Catlyn has everything he ever wanted – his twin brother Sandy restored to health, his family estate reclaimed and a son to inherit it – but his work is far from over. The renegade skraylings, the guisers, are still plotting – their leader, Jathekkil, has reincarnated as the young Prince Henry Tudor. But while he is still young, Mal has a slim chance of eliminating his enemies whilst they are at their weakest. With Sandy’s help, Mal learns to harness his own magic in the fight against the guisers, but it may be too late to save England. Schemes set in motion decades ago are at last coming to fruition, and the barrier between the dreamlands and the waking world is wearing thin. Enter this gripping and intricate plot at Mediazenn.

The story kept a fast pace as Mal and his friends had to use their swords and their wits to stay ahead of the guiser plotting. Coby, Ned, and Gabriel were the most likable of the characters, but the Scraylings were involved in plenty of interesting happenings. An excellent final act, The Prince of Lies finishes off the trilogy very well indeed, and ending the trilogy in a very satisfying way – Fans of the previous two novels will not be disappointed by what they see here, and once again, Lyle proves herself to be one of the go-to people for good historical fantasy novels with this superb finale. Grab this must read e- book at Mediazenn.

Build Your Vocabulary: Learn About The Word Uncanny

Literature is a work where vocabulary has its defined presence. People can learn words from different platforms as we have wide accessibility to technology. However, the simplest way to build you vocabulary is through reading books.

Have you ever heard about uncanny? I’m sure that if you are a comic book fan, you already know this word as you are grown up with “Uncanny X-Men” who has all the supernatural powers. So did you try to look for its meaning if you didn’t knew? Okay, let me tell you, Uncanny means surpassing the ordinary or normal. This word has been repeatedly used in comic books. Canny used to mean “knowing or careful” which means that uncanny will mean “mischievous” when it comes to supernatural spirits who are doing their best to save or destroy the world.

Words have different meanings in different context or different formation. Using words wisely can change your piece of write up in a good way and can make it in the list of most popular literary work. Also, learning words can be fun with your favorite book as it has your loved characters and they teach you a lot. So, next time you read a book don’t forget to mark the new words or make a note of it.

You’ll find a lot of vocabulary building words in books found at Mediazenn. Become a member now to explore the wide variety of book available at Mediazenn.