Definitions of a Thriller genre

For preparation for our thriller course work, each group got asked to do some research on it. For my share of the research, I am finding definitions of what is classed as a thriller and where I got it from.

My first definition I found is from a website called findmeanauthor.com. This is what they wrote about a thriller genre: 'There's no narrow definition. According to International Thriller Writer, a thriller is characterized by "the sudden rush of emotions, the excitement, sense of suspense, apprehension, and exhilaration that drive the narrative, sometime subtly with peaks and lulls, sometimes at a constant, breakneck pace." In short, a thriller thrills. How? Mostly through skillful plotting. Thriller is a genre of fiction in which tough, resourceful, but essentially ordinary heroes are pitted against villains determined to destroy them, their country or the stability of the free world.'

My second definition I found is from yahoo.com. I went on this website to find out what the public think and not some professional. Also, it sees how they would word it as well. This, in my opinion, was the best one. 'A story that starts with a serious problem, a protagonist(our hero/heroine) who tries to solve the problem only to find that it gets worse and worse and worse. The plot rises to a dramatic confrontation with the antagonist (bad guy), usually on the bad guy's territory, and ends with a short denouement (wrap up).'

My third definition is from wikipedia. I used this website because a lot of people use wikipedia for many definitions so I was curious about how they would define a thriller. They wrote: 'Thriller is a broad genre of literature, film and television that includes numerous and ofter overlapping sub-genres. Thrillers are characterized by fast pacing, frequent action, and resourceful heroes who must thwart the plans of more-powerful and better-equipped villains.'

Under the wikipedia definition there was a quote from James Patterson, from June 2006, which I feel defines a thriller definition best. He said. 'Thrillers provide such a rich literary feast. There are all kinds. The legal thriller, spy thriller, action-adventure thriller, medical thriller, religious thriller, high-tech thriller, military thriller. The list goes on and on, with new variations constantly being invented. In fact, this openness to expansion is one of the genre's most enduring characteristics. But what gives the variety of thrillers a common ground is the intensity of emotions they create, particularly those of apprehension and exhilaration, of excitement and breathlessness, all designed to generate that all-important thrill. By definition, if a thriller doesn't thrill, it's not doing its job.'