Dark humor can intensify crime fiction when handled carefully. Alan Orloff, Allan E. Ansorge, Gary Alexander, Jack Fredrickson, Jeremiah Healey, and Robin Spano discuss techniques for blending humor with violence and suspense. This session examines how comedy can enhance tension and stakes without undermining danger or credibility.
Murder in the Windy City: Why Chicago Makes Crime Fiction Hit Harder
Barbara Fister, Julia Keller, Michael A. Black, Michael Wiley, and Sara Paretsky explore why Chicago is such a compelling setting for crime fiction. They discuss how the city’s history, neighborhoods, and moral complexity shape stories where place is inseparable from...




