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Theme
Genre

Legal Thriller

Satire and Mystery Fiction

The legal thriller genre is a type of crime fiction that focuses on the proceedings of a legal investigation, with particular reference to the impact on courtroom proceedings and on the lives of the characters involved. The genre came about in the sixteenth century with the publication of short stories and novels based on court cases of the time, and some of these works were later adapted into early television series and film productions during the 1950s.

Facts
Place of Origin
United States, the jurisdiction the modern legal thriller and its television adaptations are most closely associated with. 1
Notable Example
Anatomy of a Murder (1958) by John D. Voelker, a former American judge, an early example of the genre. 1
Defining Trait
Crime fiction focused on the investigation and courtroom proceedings, typically with a lawyer as the central heroic figure, real legal terminology and courtroom or police procedure. 1
Connections

Form Of Genre

Thriller, Genres
Sources
1. Legal Thriller (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Lead section
    The legal thriller genre is a type of crime fiction genre that focuses on the proceedings of the investigation, with particular reference to the impacts on courtroom proceedings and the lives of characters.
  • Contemporary themes and language in legal thriller television section
    Legal thriller television is mostly sourced from the American jurisdiction.
  • Earliest authors and novels section
    In 1958, author and former American judge, John D. Voelker wrote Anatomy of a Murder.
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