Customer Reviews

100 Favorite Mysteries of the Century

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an interesting list that is chronologically biased in favor of the last quarter of the last century, i.e, toward titles more readily available today, as can be seen from the following counts:

Time Period Titles
1900-1920: 3
1921-1940: 14
1941-1960: 15
1961-1980: 19
1981-2000: 49

A more appropriate, although less dramatic title, would probably be "Favorite Mystery Titles That Were Generally Available" to IMBA members and stores. The book is organized into three sections. The first, and largest, provides a chronologically ordered list of the 100 mysteries followed by essays about these mysteries ordered by author. The second section provides comments from contributors. The last section lists the contributing mystery book stores, most of which appear to be 'brick and mortar" businesses rather than internet only ones. There is also an index and an ordered by author shopping checklist.

Happily, the selections here reflect greater diversity than those provided in single/dual authors' compilations or the genre-specific writer's associations mystery awards. Thus, I suspect that even devoted mystery readers will find some authors and titles they were not previously aware of. The essays are nicely done, usually with significant insight and understanding of the author and title. They generally can be read before reading the listed works without spoiling the story's plot.

As IMBA members are business folks and not normally mystery story historians, many mysteries that were certainly favorite mysteries, as reflected by bestseller status during their time of publication, are not included. For example no work by Earl Derr Biggers, the author of the Charlie Chan series, or Erle Stanley Gardner, the author of the Perry Mason Series are included. So the term "Favorite" as used in the title also reflects the contributor's turn of the century sensibilities.

In conclusion, this is an excellently selected list of mystery books prepared without the usual marketing hype or plot-spoiling essays. This book is well worth considering, even while recognizing its bias for more modern works. I can recommend it for its content, convenient size, and excellent pricing.

This little gem of a book is REQUIRED READING, if you like mysteries. Short, snappy reviews or appreciations of 100 of the very best mysteries of the twentieth century, the writing styles of the reviewers are as diverse as the books they write about. There is an enormous amount of information packed in this small prize, plus a really nifty shopping list to use for the future.

Everybody needs one. Get one for your Gramma or your Auntie, Uncle Fred.... Nancy next door..... Spot...., er, sorry, got carried away.

USEFUL, INEXPENSIVE, VERY INFORMATIVE.