A recent influx of psychological thrillers written by Black American women explores a range of topics pertaining to plotlines that are psychologically traumatic to the main characters, such as gentrification and medical exploitation. While these novels do follow traditional characteristics of the psychological thriller, they deviate from them in critical ways, most importantly in the way that the character experiences trauma. My research focuses on the psychological trauma, both historical and present day, that the main characters experience due to their identity as black women. I propose that these thrillers serve as a space where a black woman’s identity is allowed to be based in healing instead of trauma. I think there is large value in the new wave of books written by black authors, and these works should be studied and analyzed in order to gain better insight into the thoughts of modern black authors.
Miracle Johnson is a Senior majoring in English and History at Salem College. She loves reading thrillers and romances, and making quick trips to secondhand bookstores. In the fall, she plans to attend graduate school to obtain a M.A in History. Miracle Johnson is a Senior majoring in English and History at Salem College. She loves reading thrillers and romances, and making quick trips to secondhand bookstores. In the fall, she plans to attend graduate school to obtain a M.A in History.