Jim Winter offers and interesting take on this, but in spite
of the fact that it is all labeled
"opinion" it has a kind of dogmatic flavor.
There are many reasons we like noir. Many reason we like
plot, and I don't think there are any absolutes you can
attribute to one or the other.
Jim concludes: "I don't believe crime fiction, when done even
moderately well, is plot driven at all."
If we narrowly defnine crime fiction to, "a novel in which a
crime is paramount." I think it is too broad a generalization
it is "never" plot driven.
Agatha Christie for all her interesting characters still
needs the plot that moves steadily forward until Poirot,
Marple or whoever difinitively says who committed the crime.
I'm not sure even the most jaded noir or hardboiled among us
can say that Christie doesn't do it well?
Maybe we on Rara-Avis don't generally like what she does
(did) but she did do it well.
Dueling opinions with Jim here.
Jack Bludis
http://www.jackbludis.com
-- updated
"Shadow of the Dahlia" now at BN.com This novel now nominated
for a Shamus
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