Crime fiction is, roughly speaking, concerned with plot – and literary fiction (again, roughly speaking) with the interior of characters’ thoughts. Sometimes, that means literary fiction doesn’t deal well with the more plot-driven side of rape narratives, and crime fiction doesn’t deal well with the emotional effects. So: “Especially where complex stories about sexual assault are concerned, mixing genres can open up our storytelling capacities, giving writers—and readers—access to ever more empathy and nuance.” – The Atlantic
