Westlake is a Name in mystery circles. I wonder if the
average
bookstore-browsing reader recognizes Westlake's name if you
were to mention
it. In my opinion, he or she should (if they regularly graze
through the
New Fiction or New Mysteries sections) because Westlake
usually has a
recent release on the New shelves. But as a former bookstore
employee, I
also know that most readers only look for what they're
already familiar
with, so many of 'em would skip over Westlake's new book if
they hadn't
read one before.
That's a kind of rambling preamble to the thought that
prompted this post.
Actually, what I really want to hear your opinions about was
this -- is
there a mass audience for new hardboiled novels? True, people
like Vacchs
and Mad Dog Elroy sell lots of copies; but there are lots of
crime books by
lesser-known writers out there, many of them being
overlooked. Whadda ya
think? -- Duane
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