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The Telegraph on Crime Writers

Mar 3, 2008
By .
Books

It's a very busy week here — trying to cram five days of work into two, as I leave with the whole firm to Miami on Wednesday for the ABA's White Collar Crime convention in Miami, a liver-destroying boondoggle that is fun but time-consuming and logistically tricky. So blogging will be even more sporadic than normal.

In the meantime, via someplace-I-remember-not-where, check out the Telegraph's list of 50 crime authors to read before you die. The list has an English sensibility, naturally, and a historical interest — many of the authors listed are 19th and early-20th century and not to everyone's taste. I noted a few new authors I'd like to try from the list, which made it definitely worth my while. Also, it gave me the frisson of outrage that they had omitted some of my favorites, which is also a good reason to read such things. How could you leave off Michael Connelly? And Dennis Lehane and Elizabeth George ought to be on there. Anyway, enjoy.

Last 5 posts by Ken

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  1. Patrick  •  Mar 3, 2008 @5:20 pm

    DAMMIT!

    I didn't blog about this two weeks ago because I was sure you'd shred the list.

    I will add my list of the best detective television shows, which I would have mentioned had I blogged about this.

    The two best ran in the 70s, before I was old enough to understand either. Both are set in Los Angeles, for some reason. The best detective show of all time, for its intricacy, wit, and unforgettable main character, is Columbo. The show is essentially a British drawing room mystery, but the twist is that we're told in advance, before the main character ever appears, who did it and how. The mystery is how Columbo will solve the crime. The seasons to watch, on dvd if one is interested, are 1, 2, and 4.

    The second best is The Rockford Files. This show is all personality and writing. Plots are thin, dialogue are all. James Garner, always a sexy yet avuncular figure, shines as a Phillip Marlowe for the more or less modern age.

    Another favorite is Nero Wolfe, which used to run on A & E, before A & E became the Dominic Wolfe true crime channel. This is straight Christie stuff, but well written and acted.

    I agree that Connelly and George are serious omissions from the list, but still found many authors I need to read among the known favorites.