MYSTERY SCENE SPRING ISSUE #109
by Kate Stine
April 29th, 2009
Hi everyone!
Could there be a better argument for the vitality, diversity and creativity of the mystery than the work of the writers covered in this issue? Just for starters, we have Laurie King’s thoughtful, challenging Mary Russell novels which reimagined the Sherlock Holmes we thought we knew; Mary Jane Maffini’s cozy confections that provide equal measures of delight and diversion; Olen Steinhaurer’s politically and morally nuanced neo-espionage; and Hannah Berry’s gorgeous and groundbreaking graphic novel, Britten and Brülightly. Throw in the couple of hundred other interesting writers we discuss in this issue and I think you’ll agree there’s lots of great things going on in crime fiction today.
Of course, as Mark Twain observed any book is a new book to someone who hasn’t read it yet. In that spirit H.R.F. Keating draws our attention to the work of Christianna Brand, who crafted fiendishly ingenious Golden Age puzzles.
And what gets a book, of any age, noticed? The International Thriller Writers thinks its the very first sentence, and to prove their point, page 20 offers an intriguing collection from members’ works. Judge for yourself!
Not all mystery fiction is delivered via print, as Art Taylor reminds us in “Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang: Great Romantic Crime Films.” Art had such a good time picking this list that he and his fiance, Tara, are busily screening possibilities for another installment in an upcoming issue—“Love Bites: The Darker Side of Romance and Crime.”
Some years ago I traveled to Greenway, Agatha Christie’s lovely home on the banks of the River Dart in Devon. I was visiting Christie’s daughter Rosalind and son-in-law Anthony and I’ll never forget both their kind hospitality and the beautiful setting. (I definitely never forgot the 80-something Anthony merrily skipping up the hillside gardens while I and a companion straggled behind, gasping and cursing.) Sadly Rosalind and Anthony have both passed away but their generosity to mystery fans continues. Greenway was donated to Britain’s National Trust and has now been completely restored and opened to the public. See page 10 for details and if you go, send us photos!
The Mystery Scene Blog has been operational for some time now but we’re ramping up the posting. Oline Cogdill, who interviewed Laurie R. King for this issue, is now posting twice a week. We also have “web original” book reviews, news, and other items popping up there almost daily. Drop by and say hello!
And lastly, a belated welcome to Bill Crider, author of the Sheriff Dan Rhodes mysteries, amusing blogger and, as of the last issue, Mystery Scene’s new short story review columnist. Be sure to check out “Short and Sweet” on page 54.
Kate Stine
Editor-in-chief
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