You can use many different points of view in a thriller. Various authors have opinions on which point of view is the best for thrillers, but all have their merits. In this blog post, we’ll go over the pros and cons of each point of view so you can decide what will work best for your story!
The three types of points of view in thrillers
The first-person point of view is when the narrator and the protagonist are the same, telling the story from their perspective.
The second-person point of view is when the narrator addresses the reader directly as “you.”
Third-person limited point of view is when the narrator only tells the story from one character’s perspective.
Discuss the pros and cons of each point of view
First-person pov
(“I,” “we,” “us” outside of a dialog)
Pros: This is often seen as more intimate and personal since the reader gets the story directly from the protagonist. This can be very effective in thrillers because it allows readers to get into the character’s head and experience everything they are experiencing.
It can also create a sense of intimacy between reader and protagonist, making for a close relationship throughout the novel, which is good because it creates an ambiguous perspective when the reader doesn’t know what other characters are thinking.
Con: However, the first-person point of view can also be limiting because it’s difficult to reveal other characters that the protagonist wouldn’t know.
Second-person pov
(“you,” “your,” “yours” outside of dialog)
This form of writing addresses the reader directly. For instance: “You went to work late that morning.” This unique and powerful tool can effectively immerse the reader in the story, but it can be challenging to write well. And it is not commonly used in thrillers.
Third-person limited pov
(“he,” “she,” “him,” “her,” “they,” and “them” outside of dialog)
Third-person limited is the most common point of view in thrillers. It’s a third person that focuses on one character and only reveals information about other characters as it pertains to this specific character which allows writers to show what the protagonist doesn’t know quickly within their writing.
Examples from popular thrillers written in first-person point of view:
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman is a touching and unpredictable story where Eleanor struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say what she’s thinking.
Example: “I looked at my shoes. Why had I selected them? I couldn’t remember. They had Velcro fastenings for ease of use and they were black, which went with everything. They were flat for comfort and built up around the ankle for support. They were, I realized, hideous.”
Where’d You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple is narrated by Bernadette’s 15-year-old daughter in many documents (emails, memos, transcripts, etc.)
Example: “I don’t understand, Bee. If you never got my letter, how are you here?”
“I did it like you,” I said. “I slipped away.”
Swing Time by Zadie Smith tells the story of two girls growing up on the wrong side of town. There are two narrators, one is Tracey, and one is unnamed.
Example: “She had, unlike me, no contempt whatsoever for village life: she loved the smallness, the gossip, the repetition, and the closeness of family…
Let readers know which point of view is your favorite and why
Personally, I love to write in the third-person limited because it allows for multiple perspectives and character development that first-person cannot give. I love to see the protagonist grow and adapt to any situation.
Here is an example:
The scratching of branches abruptly ceased, and they drove into a small clearing. There, barely visible in the thick underbrush, was an old, decrepit cabin. Jason pocketed the car key, picked up a flashlight, and stepped from the car.
Jennifer’s heart sped up as he disappeared into the cabin. What is he doing in this isolated shoebox in the middle of nowhere? she thought.
A moment later, he came back, picked up her bag, and grabbed her arm. “Let’s go.”
She shook his hand off, got out of the car, and reluctantly followed. Stopping at the door, she grimaced at the pungent odor coming from the cabin. “I’m not going in there.”
Jason shrugged and left.
Jennifer stepped up to the threshold and watched him scan the room with a flashlight. She shuddered at the scenery.
A dirty towel nailed to the upper window frame covered the only window in the room. Below it stood a tubular steel chair with a peeling vinyl seat. The grimy Formica tabletop had been used as an ashtray. Dirty dishes, canned food, half a bottle of water, and a few slices of moldy bread sat atop a rusty woodstove behind the table.
On the floor, caked with dirt and mouse droppings, lay a sagging, soiled mattress with a sleeping bag on top. Pieces of clothing hung from nails. Calendar pictures of naked women had been tacked to the walls and used as dartboards.
“Why are we here?”
“I have to get organized for a meeting. I’m keeping you here to make sure you’ll stay out of my way. When I drive off, you can leave. If you paid attention to where we were going, you should have no problem finding the main road back to Clinton and your car. By that time, I hope to be on my way out of the country.”
“When you drive off?! I don’t want to be here on my own.”
“Ah. So you want the pleasure of my company?”
“You’re sick.” She looked at him. Parts of his hair had come undone from his ponytail. Dark stubble was already starting to show. Once a thug.
Explain why first-person is often used in thrillers
There are several reasons why first-person is often used in thrillers. Some of the most common reasons are that it can be more suspenseful and create a feeling of intimacy with the reader.
You see the story through the protagonist’s eyes when you’re in the first person. This can be suspenseful because it means that you experience everything that they experience. You’re right there with them, waiting to find out what’s going to happen next. And since thrillers are often full of suspense and surprises, using first-person can intensify those moments.
How to use second-person to create a unique reading experience for fans
You’ve never been to ____. You should go there! It’s an excellent place for some adventure, excitement, and fun. And the people are charming too! I hear their food is fantastic.
What? You’ve never been to Paris? How can that be?! It’s such a romantic city with all those lights and music and dreams coming true on every corner…you have to go there!
Narnia? Have you heard of Cair Paravel? That place will give your childhood imagination life again! Nothing else even compares. Don’t miss out on Narnia!! ____(name of another world) is so beautiful when it’s springtime over there – if only snow could melt into rainbows and happiness too!
I’m unsure if this is the best way to phrase it, but have you ever noticed that people who write thriller novels sometimes use second-person points of view? It’s cool because they make you feel like a character in their book. Try reading one of these thrillers and see if you can find instances where somebody uses “you” instead of “they.” There might be something interesting going on with perspective there that we should all note.
Discuss why third-person is often used in thrillers
The third-person limited point of view allows for multiple perspectives and character development that first-person cannot give. Different characters have different personalities, thoughts, feelings, and actions, which would go unnoticed with a single point of view.
The third-person limited point of view is used in thrillers commonly because it gives readers a deeper glimpse into the story and allows them to become more engrossed.
Here is a short story from one of my books:
Max stopped his kayak at a bend in the river and signaled for everyone to be quiet. “Moose ahead,” he mouthed.
Less than five meters before them, a large cow moose stood in water up to her belly, blocking their passage. Then, in one smooth motion, she plunged her head and neck underwater. Seconds later, she raised her head with a mouthful of aquatic grasses, munched on them for a while, then returned for more. And so it went. It was terrific, nature up close and personal.
When the moose finally climbed up on the riverbank, the group, eager to get going, charged forward. Then, suddenly, they scrambled to back up. The cow moose had stopped at the bank’s edge and emptied her bladder in a heavy gush that splashed high and wide.
“Jeez!” Max screamed, recoiling in disgust as the brunt of the liquid splashed over him. Cathy nearly rocked her kayak with her laughter.
“You did that on purpose!” Max yelled at the moose as she calmly walked away into the marsh.
“You always blame the females,” Lucy said.
Try out different points of view to see which one works best
If you’re not sure about what point of view you’d like to write in, I can’t encourage you strongly enough to pick a chapter in your book, write it in first-person point of view, then write it in a third-person limited point of view and then decide what view is your strongest!
Conclusion
Thrillers are suspenseful stories, so it’s no surprise that they often come in three different points of view – first-person, second-person, and third-person limited. Your chosen point of view is up to you according to your writing style preferences or what will be most effective for the story you want to tell.
For example, if a thriller writer wants their reader to feel an intense sense of fear, then using first-person narrative may be best because it allows them to put themselves into the shoes of the protagonist who has experienced these events firsthand.
If, on the other hand, a writer wishes for their readership to experience more than one character’s perspective to understand how certain things happened, then third-person limited would be the better option.
Enjoy writing your story. Use what you’ve learned from the blogs to make your story intense and exciting.
If you’re working on your first novel and are looking for more help with your writing, please check out my other articles at https://ullahakanson.com/blog/
Best of luck with your writing!
Ulla