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Let's consider the question where the pronoun, you, is changed to the noun, writer. What will ensure the writer the greatest chance of success for his/her book? It turns the question around so that financial success is the most important consideration, and personal taste is a matter of secondary importance. This way, we can be helpful to current and future authors, so that the supply of books that interests the majority of us will always be ample. In the thriller genre, it seems that honor in a character is important, even if the morals of the hero are not necessarily pure. Two examples are Jack Reacher and Amos Decker (Memory Man). Dirty protagonists or cops are less appealing, but not that rare. They tend to fit the role of antagonists or anti-heroes. Tami Hoag and Gillian Flynn are excellent writers who create anti-heroes with depth and interest. I haven't read that many romance novels, but the synopses of such books seem to include a handsome man or woman, together with characters who are taken advantage of. Hoag has dabbled with thrillers and romance novels, which means that one day I will be reading the latter type of novel. Without attempting to pigeon-hole a writer, I would say that writing ability counts, and it transcends characterization. Once you get behind a writer, they can write a book about any subject, and you'll pick it up to read. Imagination is a powerful force that can push aside stereotypes. One off-beat example: Manhood for Amateurs by Michael Chabon.
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