Ryan David Jahn
Encyclopedia
Ryan David Jahn is an American
novelist and screenwriter
. His first book, Acts of Violence (Good Neighbors in the U.S.), is a literary thriller inspired by the 1964 murder of Catherine Genovese. Upon release in 2009 it was both praised as "compassionate and authentic," and criticized for containing "relentless, near-pornographic brutality," though overall critical reception was positive, and it won a Crime Writers' Association dagger for best first novel. He has released two other books.
, Jahn spent much of his youth moving between his father's apartment in Austin
, Texas
, and his mother's various rentals in and around Los Angeles
, California
. At one point, while living near Los Angeles, he was one of six people sharing a one-bedroom apartment, and has said it was to avoid these cramped living quarters that he spent much of his time in public libraries. He left school at sixteen, and later joined the army, an experience he has described as "ludicrous." He now lives in Los Angeles with his wife Mary.
, including by Jahn himself ("It revolved around a crime, so that seemed to be what it was"), he has cited writers as diverse as Raymond Carver
, Ernest Hemingway
, and Stephen King
as influences.
His first novel, Acts of Violence, takes place over a period of three hours and revolves around the murder of Katrina Marino, a bar manager stabbed in the courtyard outside her apartment block. Her murder is witnessed by several people, none of whom call the police or try to help, as each denies responsibility, an example of the bystander effect
. Though inspired by the murder of Catherine Genovese, the case that first spurred research into the diffusion of responsibility
, Jahn has said he wasn't interested in writing a didactic work. "I didn't want to create symbols; I wanted the story to be inhabited by people."
Jahn's second novel, Low Life, was released on 2 July 2010. He has said in interview that "it’s about a payroll accountant who lives a lonely, friendless life. One night while he’s asleep in bed someone breaks into his apartment and tries to murder him. During the altercation he ends up killing his assailant, and rather than calling the police, he puts the body on ice in his bathtub and tries to find out who wanted him dead and why."
His third novel, The Dispatcher, was released in 2011.
John Creasey New Blood Dagger for Acts of Violence (2010).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
novelist and screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
. His first book, Acts of Violence (Good Neighbors in the U.S.), is a literary thriller inspired by the 1964 murder of Catherine Genovese. Upon release in 2009 it was both praised as "compassionate and authentic," and criticized for containing "relentless, near-pornographic brutality," though overall critical reception was positive, and it won a Crime Writers' Association dagger for best first novel. He has released two other books.
Biography
Born in ArizonaArizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, Jahn spent much of his youth moving between his father's apartment in Austin
Austin
Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas.Austin may also refer to:-In the United States:*Austin, Arkansas*Austin, Colorado*Austin, Chicago, Illinois*Austin, Indiana*Austin, Minnesota*Austin, Nevada*Austin, Oregon...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and his mother's various rentals in and around Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. At one point, while living near Los Angeles, he was one of six people sharing a one-bedroom apartment, and has said it was to avoid these cramped living quarters that he spent much of his time in public libraries. He left school at sixteen, and later joined the army, an experience he has described as "ludicrous." He now lives in Los Angeles with his wife Mary.
Work
Though his work has been described as crime fictionCrime fiction
Crime fiction is the literary genre that fictionalizes crimes, their detection, criminals and their motives. It is usually distinguished from mainstream fiction and other genres such as science fiction or historical fiction, but boundaries can be, and indeed are, blurred...
, including by Jahn himself ("It revolved around a crime, so that seemed to be what it was"), he has cited writers as diverse as Raymond Carver
Raymond Carver
Raymond Clevie Carver, Jr. was an American short story writer and poet. Carver is considered a major American writer of the late 20th century and also a major force in the revitalization of the short story in the 1980s....
, Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Miller Hemingway was an American author and journalist. His economic and understated style had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his life of adventure and his public image influenced later generations. Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the...
, and Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
as influences.
His first novel, Acts of Violence, takes place over a period of three hours and revolves around the murder of Katrina Marino, a bar manager stabbed in the courtyard outside her apartment block. Her murder is witnessed by several people, none of whom call the police or try to help, as each denies responsibility, an example of the bystander effect
Bystander effect
The bystander effect or Genovese syndrome is a social psychological phenomenon that refers to cases where individuals do not offer any means of help in an emergency situation to the victim when other people are present...
. Though inspired by the murder of Catherine Genovese, the case that first spurred research into the diffusion of responsibility
Diffusion of responsibility
Diffusion of responsibility is a sociopsychological phenomenon. It refers to the tendency of any individual person to avoid taking action, or refraining from action, when others are present. Considered a form of attribution, the individual assumes that either others are responsible for taking...
, Jahn has said he wasn't interested in writing a didactic work. "I didn't want to create symbols; I wanted the story to be inhabited by people."
Jahn's second novel, Low Life, was released on 2 July 2010. He has said in interview that "it’s about a payroll accountant who lives a lonely, friendless life. One night while he’s asleep in bed someone breaks into his apartment and tries to murder him. During the altercation he ends up killing his assailant, and rather than calling the police, he puts the body on ice in his bathtub and tries to find out who wanted him dead and why."
His third novel, The Dispatcher, was released in 2011.
Awards
The Crime Writers' AssociationCrime Writers' Association
The Crime Writers Association is a writers' association in the United Kingdom. Founded by John Creasey in 1953, it is currently chaired by Peter James and claims 450+ members....
John Creasey New Blood Dagger for Acts of Violence (2010).