Writers of crime stories sometimes become overly focused on the specific structure required by the genre, which can lead them to forget that they are creating a larger narrative in the form of a novel. This narrow focus can result in works that feel formulaic or shallow, lacking the depth that a novel should ideally possess.

Consequently, such approaches can give rise to justified critiques of sensationalism and trivialization within the genre. When the story is crafted solely for thrills, rather than for character and thematic development, it risks reducing complex human experiences to mere plots, limiting the impact of the writing.