About this Elements series

Cambridge Elements in Crime Narratives publishes groundbreaking research from scholars and practitioners of crime writing in its many dynamic and evolving forms. The series examines and innovatively re-examines crime writing and crime narratives as a global ‘genre’, which might have begun on a premise and promise of ‘entertainment’ but quickly and stealthily became a means with which to probe pressing political and sociological concerns, along with the human condition. Volumes give voice to new, inclusive, and innovative lines of inquiry, ensuring representative approaches across the academic, critical and creative international and intersectional fields.   

As a priority the series will engage with the urgent critical debates in the field of literary and crime writing studies, including the representation of historically marginalized communities, the relationship of gender norms to larger cultural discourses, the disruptive and reparative potential of queer and trans interventions in narratives of power, and the relation of climate change to industrial crime, race and surveillance. The wide interdisciplinary audience includes scholars, students, practitioners and invested readers, viewers and listeners.

Individual Elements’ contributions are at a length (circa 20,000-30,000 words) that is longer than a journal article but shorter than a book. This length allows for more scope and depth than is available through the article format while also enabling authors to write on a shorter timeline than would be feasible with a full-length monograph. Elements publish digitally within 12 weeks of acceptance after full peer review. The publication method of the Elements series affords authors the agility to contribute innovative scholarship focused on timeless, vital questions of crime writing and narratives as well as contemporary trends, future-facing queries, inclusivity and decoloniality. Published Elements will have both ISSNs and ISBNs.

Contact the Editors

If you are interested in publishing in this series, please contact the editors at: Henry Sutton (Henry.Sutton@uea.ac.uk), Catherine Nickerson (cnicker@emory.edu) or Margot Douaihy (margot_douaihy@emerson.edu).