Terry On Books Blog

When I had my bookstore in Vancouver,
except for the last couple of years, I had a
substantial mystery/detective fiction section–
usually over two thousand paperbacks and
about five hundred hardcovers. But then,
in the ’80’s and ’90’s, people who didn’t
already know the authors they were looking
for and were asking for advice would have
a choice of English or American, male or
female authors? Then I could recommend two
or three writers they could try. That’s all
changed today.

Sure, even twenty years ago, readers could
ask for mysteries by that English jockey or
that American P.I. who lived on a houseboat.
But there wasn’t the astounding selection of
private detectives that there are today. It seems
that every new mystery writer in the last ten
years has tried to carve out their own little niche
with a kooky hero or heroine to match.

Books for catlovers were quite the craze for
a while, and authors such as Lilian Jackson Braun,
Carole Nelson Douglas, Rita Mae Brown and Linda
Adamson happily obliged. Ellis Peters began her
medieval England series with Brother Cadfael, and
historical mysteries jumped to the forefront, with
offerings from a whole host of writers such as
Paul Doherty and John Maddox Roberts writing
about ancient Rome; Leonard Tourney writing
about Elizabethan England; plus mystery-solving
archaeoligists from the pens of Elizabeth Peters,
Lyn Hamilton and Val Davis.

Horseracing mysteries have been well-covered of
course by Dick Francis, Stephen Dobyns and
John Francombe. Bookstore owners Annie Darling
and Cliff Janeway solve mysteries at the bidding of
Carolyn Hart and John Dunning respectively. Forensic
anthropologists Temperance Brennan (Kathy Reichs)
and Kay Scarpetta (Patricia Cornwell) are more
adept at solving mysteries than their police counterparts.

Okay, so far, not so bad. I’ve read books by all of
the above authors and enjoyed them. I guess my
(mild) complaint is with the newer brand of “boutique”
mysteries. We have a choice of detectives now from
the vocations of: food writers (Angie Amalfi and Monsieur
Pamplemousse); caterer (Goldy of Goldilocks Catering);
bed-and-breakfast proprietor (Judith McMonigle Flynn);
newspaper publisher/editor (Emma Lord); bounty hunter
(Stephanie Plum); fisherman (retired dentist Doc Osborne);
ex-lawyer and herbalist (China Bayles); glassblower
(Sarah Atwell); and someone has even turned real-life
children’s book author Beatrix Potter into a detective
in the Cottage Tales series. Read a mystery and learn a
trade at the same time!

If you thought you’d never enjoy reading mysteries,
I think all of your excuses have gone out the window.
There’s a mystery out there that’s tailor-made just
for you. Simply match up your favourite interest or
hobby with an amateur detective who shares your
passion. And, if you can’t find that special mystery
series that’s just right for you, then write one.

Please take some time to visit my website:
www.stillmanbooks.com

Remember, the only book purchase you’ll
ever regret is the one you didn’t make.

Talk soon.