Hello John Santana Fans,
Mystery novels have captivated readers for centuries, pulling us into webs of suspense, red herrings, and shocking twists. But what happens when Hollywood takes these great stories and brings them to the screen? Do they live up to the book—or do they fall flat?
🔍 The Hits: When Adaptations Get It Right
Some films and TV series have masterfully captured the essence of their source material, bringing characters and plot twists to life in a way that enhances the story. Here are a few of my favorite standout adaptations:
I recently watched a rerun of LA Confidential, the 1997 crime thriller, and
the terrific adaptation of James Elroy’s said-to-be unadaptable novel with outstanding performances by Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Kim Basinger, Kevin Spacey, Danny DeVito, and James Cromwell. It’s still one of my favorite crime movies.
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo- I thought the Swedish version was better than the US version, as was Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth Salander. Stieg Larsson’s second and third books in the trilogy,
The Girl Who Played With Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets’ Nest, were also excellent Swedish adaptations of his novels.
Amazon’s production of Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch and The Lincoln Lawyer novels, and Lee Child’s Reacher (at least the first year) were mostly faithful to their source material and were well-acted.
I was disappointed
that the excellent Netflix series Mindhunter, based on John Douglas’s 1995 true crime account, Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit, detailing Douglas’s twenty-five-year career as an FBI agent and criminal profiler, lasted only two seasons.
Why Are Mysteries So Hard to Adapt?
Bringing a mystery novel to the screen comes with
unique challenges:
📖Inner Monologue Loss – Many mysteries rely on a character’s thoughts, which can be hard to translate visually.
✂️Plot Compression – Films must condense lengthy plots, sometimes cutting crucial twists or red herrings.
⏳Pacing Adjustments – A slow-burning mystery might need to be restructured for cinematic
impact.
The Triumphs of Film Adaptation
Despite the challenges, some aspects of filmmaking can enhance a mystery story:
🎥Visual Storytelling – Cinematography, lighting, and music create suspense in ways books cannot.
🌟Powerful Performances – A great actor
can bring unexpected depth to a beloved character.
📣New Audiences – Film adaptations introduce classic mysteries to a wider audience, keeping the genre alive.
What Do You Think?
What are your favorite or least favorite mystery adaptations? Do you prefer the book or the movie? Reply and let me know—I’d love to hear your
thoughts!
And if you enjoy historical fiction and haven’t read my murder mystery, City Of Stones, set in 1950 Minneapolis, and written with my friend, Dan Cohen, the e-book version will be free to download from March 5-9. Here’s the Amazon link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07X7RHLHQ
