Re: RARA-AVIS: Wolfe Sub-Genre? Holmes a P.I.? HB Cop Procedural?

Mario Taboada (matrxtech@sprintmail.com)
Tue, 13 Jan 1998 14:54:30 +0000 Rick Robinson:

<<Question # 1
What sub-genre do Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe novels/stories fit into? Is
there any way they could be considered "hard-boiled"?>>

I call them "midboiled".

<<Question # 2
Is Sherlock Holmes a P.I.? Why/why not?>>

Unequivocally yes. He is a professional detective in business by
himself. That's a P.I.

<<Question # 3
Is there / could there be such a thing as a hard-boiled police
procedural?>>

Yes. There are many examples, such as Chester Himes's Harlem novels; Joe
Gores's DKA Files novels (they are not _police_ procedurals, but the
agency works as an institution); Charles Willeford's Hoke Mosely series;
several of Elmore Leonard's novels; the Ellroy novels featuring Lloyd
Hopkins; Joseph Wambaugh's novels; etc. etc.

Regards,

Mario Taboada
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