Is Crime fiction the right place for humour and if so, what's acceptable?

This is strictly my personal opinion, and I know from experience that many people won't agree, but there it is.
I do like crime dramas (I watch too many of them I'm afraid), and I really don't think that it's the right place for humour really. When I watch a crime drama, it's a crime drama I want to see, interesting cases with all the twists and turns, interesting investigation, the work of detectives, cops, forensics, lawyers (there are very good courtroom dramas like Murder One of Kavanagh QC), and so on, and so on. And I do not want any comedy to spoil that. It's OK, if there are some funny moments (you can find yourself laughing from time to time watching even The Wire), but half crime/half comedy just does not work for me. That's the reason I never got through New Tricks Season 1. The idea is rather good, the cast is superb, the cases not very interesting, so there's everything for potentially average British crime drama. But the comedy half made it plain boring for me, sorry. I know that this is what made the show that appealing for many people, but for me there are dozens and dozens of better crime dramas (perhaps better comedies too, just I don't watch comedies). Bones was even worse. After the quite decent season 1 it went down to something beyond any stupidity. Booth losing and getting back his license, Booth and his shrink, well, maybe that's OK for a comedy, just I expected some forensics, not some laughs. And moments like Zack being denied a job because of his appearance, and, worse, Angela making him to look decent... sorry, that's not funny. That's embarrassing. I felt like a total fool for having paid my money for that. Never finished season 2, sure enough, never started watching season 3.
So I'd say, that a mixture of a crime drama and a comedy is definitely NOT my cup of tea.
Cheers!

I think that some humour is acceptable within crime fiction, after all they are dealing with some very macabre and distressing cases, surely they are allowed some relief from it all by having the occasional laugh and joke?

Humour is acceptable everywhere, no matter how desperate the situation--for example read "555" by William Roberts--dire circumstances--great humour--it works--terrific plot--mind-blowing ending and laughs along the way. Buy it!

Yes, Crime is a very broad categorisation for books - whether fiction or non-fiction. There is certainly room for comedy in crime novels i.e. The Golden Pig by the Penny Brothers has a strong comic flavour as well as being an exciting read. On the other hand, some of the modern Scandinavian crime writers like Larsson write much darker novels. It just depends what type of crime novel you like. There is certainly room for many different types.

Oh yes. The world's a dirty place and sometimes the only way to get through the atrocities on display is to find some of them funny. Try Football Factory....neanderthal funny crime. Or Of Vicars and Tarts which is riddled with crime and a liberal splash of humour!

[Deleted by the author on 9 Jul 2009 16:33 BST]

try ROSKO by Phil P Mitchell

try reading any book by Stuart McBride. It does help if you are scottish. The man is seriously warped but amid all the horror you find yourself laughing at certain parts.

Carl Hiassen and Kinky Friedman mix humour in with their crime stories to great effect. So does Janet Evanovitch. In terms of less serious crime and more focus on humour, my own book "Sherlock Holmes and the Underpants of Death" has plenty of jokes and the odd crime. I'd have to say that, DVD wise, "The Naked Gun" is one of the funniest films I've ever seen.

Sherlock Holmes and the Underpants of Death

Elmore Leonard is one of the best crime novelists and his novels are full of humour. And what about Coen Brothers' films?

Harlan Coben writes superb crime fiction, laced with humour. I particularly love Myron Bolitar's side-kick, Win, who provides the best one-liners and sparkling wit. Such enjoyable crime fiction, with just the right amount of humour. Genius!

Once again, I have to say Sue Grafton.

Harlan Coben - yes, I'll agree with that too.

It's not only acceptable, it can also make all the difference between an enjoyable read and a depressing one. I thrive on crime fiction, particularly American authors, and if the book contains humour as well, it's like icing on the cake for me. The most recent entrant to the genre is Marshall Karp. His first 2 books were sheer pleasure to read. I can't comment on the latest one as I haven't finished it yet!

I agree with Mr Orzech, humour can be valuable in lifting the gloom which can set in if the storyline is unremittingly grim, Stuart McBride is a master of it ending a chapter with a smile.

Stuart MacBride also gets my vote
but Harlan Coben (Myron & Win) actually make me laugh out loud so he gets my No1. (just narrowly)

Christopher Brookmyre is the answer to the question...definitively YES. His use of humour expands what would be just good books into truly brilliant stories. Not just laugh out loud funny, but embarrassing-explosions-of-coffee-on-trains funny. Try One Fine Day in the Middle of the Night.

I'd suggest reading David Simon's non-fiction "Homicide" to get an insight into the grim gallows humour that real detectives use as a form of blue-collar camaraderie and a coping mechanism for actually turning over bodies on a daily basis.

Of course humour has a place in Crime fiction. Believe me when I say that if you do a stressful job with sights sounds and smells enough to make you faint , then a sick joke with collegues is about all there is to help.
My favourite crime fiction writer with wicked humour is Stuart McBride, but Rebus and Frost can be funny.

What about the late great Michael Dibdin's Aurelio Zen? Cosi Fan Tutte is a masterpiece of comic pastiche.

It's not inappropriate if it feels right. Some crime fiction might be hard to read without lighter moments, and in real life humour can help us through stressful and distressing times. On the other hand, there are times when it would feel inappropriate to try and lighten the mood. So it depends on the nature of the particular book, and the individual reader's taste. In answer to the original question, I'm saying that in my opinion there is no one right answer. Sometimes I might feel like reading a relatively humorous thriller, and at other times I might want something darker and more serious - and I'm just one reader.

Cut Short (DI Geraldine Steel)

I totally agree with you Heather. I think MacBride is superb. I find myself reading in a Scottish accent.

Try Christopher Brookmyre......A Tale Etched in Blood and Hard Black Pencil gets the humour and crime
balanced just right.

EM Richardson - do you read in a Scottish accent in your head? Do you 'hear' the words? Or do you read aloud? Sorry to bombard you with questions - I'm just intrigued by your comment.

Cut Short (DI Geraldine Steel)