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The World's Most Celebrated Sleuths Unmasked
by Their Authors
Otto Penzler
MysteriousPress.com/Open
Road
August 28, 2012/ ASIN: B008V5JHLO – reviewed Kindle Edition
Mystery Authors / Essays
Amazon
Reviewed
by Brenda Weeaks
Original published by LittleBrown in 1978, Penzler offers mystery
readers a book of essays titled The Great Detectives. Mysterious
Press/Open Road reprinted this popular nonfiction title just for
us mystery buffs. I personally do not consider a book of essays
as dated. This reprint is a wonderful way to learn more about past
mystery writers. Characters I never heard of are now a part of my
wish list. Lucky for us mystery readers the world of ebooks are
flourishing and this makes it possible to experience the writings
of earlier popular authors and their characters. As mystery fans
we have to admit popular sleuths never really retire or fade away,
our passion for this genre just won’t allow it.
The Great Detectives brings a renewed interest in past popular
sleuths – and I for one am excited about that.
Rodrick Alleyn by Dame
Ngaio Marsh
In her essay, Marsh explains how Alleyn was created on a wet afternoon
in a London flat, how he got his name, and how he became three-dimensional
– to the point of traveling with her... She was proud he was
referred to as “that nice chap Alleyn.”
John Appleby by Michael
Innes
Appleby of Scotland Yard was created during a long sea voyage. Innes’
readers never actually learn about the character’s background.
Appleby seemed to move among the aristocrats (Who’s Who) with
ease. Innes states he wrote the Appleby series without dwelling
over it. Some of Appleby’s characteristics are similar to
the author – they even aged together.
Lew Archer by Ross
McDonald
McDonald mentions his character, Lew Archer PI, in passing then
goes into an essay on “What Makes Up a PI.”
Father Bredder by Leonard
Holton
Father Bredder is completely new to me… In this essay Holton
wants to make sure readers do not confuse his real-life character
with the Chesterton’s “pious” Father Brown.
Flash Casey by George
Harmon Coxe
Flash is a photographer turned detective. Coxe shares how Flash
came to be, the publisher who believed in him and the other characters
in the series.
Pierre Chambrun by Hugh
Pentecost
Chambrun runs The Beaumont, a New York hotel. As I read I was reminded
the contemporary TV show Vegas (Casino; owner and employees solving
cases). In his essay, Pentecost goes back to the 1920s when he started
writing mysteries for magazines. His character, Chambrun, is a gentleman
of French descent and the hotel is actually based on Pentecost’s
hotel background experience.
Inspector Cockrill by Christianna
Brand
The author refers to Inspector Cockrill as too short and old to
be in the Force. Penzler refers to Cockrill as kind and gentle.
I personally enjoyed Brand’s writing style. The way she wrote
about her much loved character made me want to look this series
up.
Here is a list of the rest of the characters and their creators.
What a wonderful book of essays. I’m so glad they are once
again available to the public.
Captain Jose Da Silva by Robert L Fish
Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene
Inspector Ghote by H R F Keating
Matt Helm by Donald Hamiton
Duncan Maclain by Baynard H Kendrick
Lieutenant Luis Mendoza by Dell Shannon
Mr and Mrs North by Richard Lockridge
Patrick Petrella by Michael Gilbert
Superintenedent Pibble by Peter Dickinson
Quiller by Adam Hall
Inspector Schmidt by George Bagby
The Shadow by Maxwell Grant
Michael Shyne by Brett Halliday
Virgil Tibbs by John Ball
Dick Tracy by Chester Goudl
Inspector Van der Valk by Nicolas Freeling
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