First published 2010
This November-December 1986 issue of The Mystery Fancier brings together crime fiction scholars and enthusiasts to examine the genre's key figures and trends. Jeff Banks analyzes unplayed narrative cards in detective fiction through "Spade Trumps Unplayed." Neysa Chouteau profiles the distinctive Miss Seeton character. Francis M. Nevins Jr. continues his examination of Cornell Woolrich's final creative period. George N. Dove studies William MacHarg's transitional police detective characters. Jane S. Bakerman conducts an in-depth interview with acclaimed crime novelist Nicolas Freeling about his craft and career. R. E. Skinner dissects the violent landscape of the British television series Dempsey and Makepeace, focusing on its gun-wielding American protagonist in Arthur's realm. William F. Deeck rounds out the issue with additional literary discoveries. The collection offers mystery fans scholarly insight into beloved characters, forgotten writers, and the evolution of crime storytelling across different media.
Genres: literary-criticism, 20th-century, mystery, crime, non-fiction, academia
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: academic, literary-criticism
Period: 1986
54 pages · Paperback · Borgo Press