Performing Autopsies on Great Bodies of Crime Fiction.
Pictures of Perfection—Reginald Hill–1994–Delacorte Press I came to Reginald Hill’s Peter Pascoe and Andy Dalziel Yorkshire detective novels late. At least 10 books worth late. For reasons that escape me now, I didn’t like his work–or put in another way, I only made it halfway through the first page of the one book I tried … Read more
Biblios = Books about Books Part 1: Books about Books–Better Known as Biblios Part 2 Biblios Focusing on Booksellers/Collectors Part 3 Bibilos Focusing on Writers Part 4 Bibilos Focusing on Writers Part 5 Biblios Focusing on Publishing Ah, so many more bookshop mysteries have come to light since I wrote the first article about biblios. And … Read more
Biblios = Books about Books Part 1: Books about Books–Better Known as Biblios Part 2 Bibilos Focusing on Booksellers/Collectors Part 3 Bibilos Focusing on Writers Part 4 Bibilos Focusing on Writers Part 5 Bibilos Focusing on Publishers Biblio–def.: ‘the Greek root for a variety of words referring to the book, such as bibliography, bibliomania, etc.’ I’ve often … Read more
The Black Paw—Constance and Gwyneth Little-1941 Doubleday Crime Club-IP The sisters Little make this list not once, but twice. Why, because their books are that funny, that convoluted, and that smart–that makes them mandatory. LOL. If you’ve read my article on the screwball comedy novels the two sisters produced between the late 1930s to the … Read more
Last Seen Wearing Hillary Waugh–1952–Doubleday Crime Club-used This book is on practically every best mystery list I’ve seen. So, naturally, I didn’t really want it on mine, lol. But, sometimes good is good is good, and can’t be denied. Last Seen Wearing is a police procedural that out does all other police procedurals. Taking place in … Read more
The Almost Moon–Alice Sebold–2007-Little Brown-IP One may have assumed that if I were to choose something from this author to be on my best list, it would be her major seller, The Lovely Bones. Made into a film, and heralded by one and all, it would seem to be a natural fit. And the book … Read more
Mr. Smith’s Hat––Helen Reilly-1940-Doubleday Crime Club–used I kept struggling with which title of Helen Reilly’s I wanted on the list, then if I wondered if she should be on the list at all, then if she should be lower on the list or higher on the list, until I just said, enough already, and … Read more
From time to time I reflect on the number of famous, not so famous, and fantastic writers I’ve been privileged to meet over the years. Some I met when they promoted their first book, and have either dropped from publishing sight, or become bestsellers, or the between–the midlist author who continues to be published and … Read more
