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A reader's guide to the American novel of detection

by Lachman, Marvin.

Format: Print Book 1993
Availability: Available at 1 Library 1 of 1 copy

Noncirculating (1)
Location Collection Call #
Penn Hills Library Reference R 809.3 LAC
Location  Penn Hills Library
 
Collection  Reference
 
Call Number  R 809.3 LAC
 
 

Summary
This sourcebook offers mystery fans annotated entries on 1,314 titles by 166 authors in the genre, from the classics (e.g. Ellery Queen, Perry Mason, Nero Wolfe) to the current. In addition to brief plot summaries (which include publisher and publication date), Lachman lists pseudonyms of the authors, creators and series characters, occupations of the characters (none earns a living from detective work), period of story, locations, settings, holiday mysteries, as well as the 100 notable novels of detection. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.
Published Reviews
Booklist Review: "Covering 1,314 titles of American detective fiction by 166 North American authors published through 1991, this second book in the Reader's Guide series focuses on amateur detectives such as Amanda Cross's Kate Fansler and Harry Kemelman's Rabbi David Small. The author, an Edgar Award winner and a reviewer for several detective-fiction journals, has excluded titles that have as their protagonist a police officer, private investigator, or professional detective. He does make some exceptions, such as Nero Wolfe, who even though his profession was that of private investigation, proceeded as an amateur. This book follows the same format as the first title in the series, A Reader's Guide to the Classic British Mystery [RBB S 1 88], and is designed for the mystery buff. In the main section of the book, entries are arranged alphabetically by author and chronologically by series character, followed by nonseries books. Annotations are limited to plot descriptions, not critical reviews, and, of course, do not reveal the identities of any murderers. Included are lists of pseudonyms, creators, and series characters and indexes by occupation of series character, location, setting, subject, period of the story (1670-1979), and holiday, making this a quick-reference source for readers. The author concludes with his personal recommendation of "One Hundred Notable Novels of Detection." There is no title index. Several guides provide more comprehensive coverage of mysteries but are not annotated, for example, Hubin's Crime Fiction. The armchair detective may want to browse through A Reader's Guide for titles by a favorite author or use it to find a new author based on the reader's interests. Libraries that need another guide to this genre should keep a copy next to the fiction section for easy reference. (Reviewed Aug. 1993)"
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Additional Information
Series Reader's guides to mystery novels.
Subjects Detective and mystery stories, American -- Bibliography.
Detective and mystery stories, American -- Stories, plots, etc.
Publisher New York : Toronto : New York :G.K. Hall ;1993
Maxwell Macmillan Canada ;
Maxwell Macmillan International,
Other Titles American novel of detection.
Language English
Description xii, 435 pages ; 25 cm.
ISBN 0816118035 (alk. paper)
Other Classic View