Critical Survey of Mystery and Detective Fiction

Noting that detective literature is being taught in university courses, Rollyson (Baruch College, City U. of New York) makes the case for the revision and expansion of the 1988 1st ed. of this five-volume reference, and the addition of 37 topical essays in Volume 5. The original articles have been updated or replaced and new articles have been added on 118 authors, with 390 authors represented in all. The entries for each author include a brief overview of their life and work, an analysis of the author's work, and description and analysis of a selection of works. The entries conclude with lists of the author's principal mystery and detective fiction and their other major works, grouped by media. The overview essays describe trends in the genre by chronological era, by subgenre, by type of detective, in other media, and in Africa, Asia, Britain, France, and Latin America. Lists of major awards, a guide to online resources, and a glossary of crime fiction jargon are among the resources in volume 5. Annotation c2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)