A story that focuses on an insider character is one that features a protagonist who is already a part of the world or culture in which the story takes place. These characters often have to struggle with their changing understandings of that world and its moral underpinnings.
For example, the 1999 film The Insider chronicles the story of Jeffrey Wigand, a former scientist with the tobacco industry who discovered that its products were far more dangerous than had previously been believed. When CBS producer Lowell Bergman approaches him with information that could destroy the tobacco industry, Wigand agrees to go on 60 Minutes to expose his findings. He risks his family, his reputation and possibly even jail time.
Mann’s approach is methodical rather than sensational, with no car chases or sleazy sex scenes. It’s a story about moral imperatives, and the performances of Russell Crowe and Al Pacino range from explosive passion to brooding introspection.
Both of these examples are insider stories that take advantage of a common narrative strategy known as world building. World building provides readers with a lot of background information and details, explaining why things are the way they are in that world. The key is to balance this with enough action and story, as excessive world building can slow the pace of a novel.
Using an insider narrative can provide a lot of dramatic tension as the protagonist struggles with his or her new understandings of the world in which they live. However, such tension can quickly turn into boredom if the novel doesn’t carefully manage the balance between insider information and action.