I also agree that reviewers that reach for the similes or
start casting the
novel too quickly probably lack the critical vocabulary or
standards or
background to really evaluate. Or they're simply trying for
cover blurb
"status."
I like this thread. Once upon a time in the 40s (sorry I keep
bringing it
up), there were some BIG NAME reviewers of mystery and crime
fiction,
publishing in major magazines or newspapers--Will Cuppy,
Howard Haycraft,
Anthony Boucher. Interestingly, Dorothy B. Hughes, my current
obsession,
was honored for her reviewing by the Mystery Writers Assoc.
long before she
was honored for her fiction. (Personally, I remember that
Robin Winks did
some nice features for the New Republic in the 70s...)
My sense is that major papers and mags no longer devote the
attention to
crime fiction they once did. (Perhaps because "true crime"
books have
better plots?) Anyway, are there any critics-reviewers of
mystery/crime
fiction TODAY that should command our regular attenton? If
so, where do
they publish?
Bill Hagen
<billha@ionet.net>
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