Customer Reviews

Five Star First Edition Mystery - Scenarios: A "Nameless Detective" Casebook

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Because of the well-deserved reputation of this sleuth, this reviewer is keeping this review very short as this fourteen-story casebook showcases one of the great sleuths of the last half of century, The Nameless Detective. The anthology covers the full range of decades starting back in the late 1960s and going into 2002, but most of the contributions were written between 1979-1995. Bill Pronzini displays his talent throughout the book so that readers receive what is bound to be recognized as one of the better crime fiction assemblages of the year. The numerous fans of the Nameless Detective will rejoice with this complete compilation while if there is anyone who has not tried at least one tale this is a delightful entry to one of the greats.

Harriet Klausner

Bill Pronzini is best known for his "Nameless Detective" novels. "Scenarios" is a casebook of short stories featuring Nameless. In all there are 14 short stories in this book. Of special interest is the short story "It's a Lousy World" which is Nameless' first case and was written in 1968. There is also a Nameless/Sharon McCone story which Pronzini co-wrote with his wife, Marcia Muller. Bill Pronzini is a giant in mystery fiction and this book shows he is a master of the short story as well. "Scenarios" should be a part of any "Nameless Detective" collection.

Pronzini sits at the top of the list of Hammett's successors. His Nameless Detective has established his own claim to the San Francisco neighborhoods where Sam Spade and the Continental Op once trod. As a long-time Nameless fan I sought out Scenarios, hoping to revel in a trove of undiscovered Nameless tales. Alas, this collection of mostly re-published materials overwhelmed me with deja vu. These are great stories--Pronzini doesn't write any other kind-- but if you're a Nameless fan, you've probably read most of them already in such collections as Case File and Spadework. Plot lines from several others can be found in full length Nameless novels. Only two or three of these fourteen stories sounded new to me. New fans will enjoy this book but oldtimers will be better off waiting for the next Nameless novel.

Facts:
A large print hardcover book with several short mystery stories featuring "Nameless Detective". One Locked Room, a few tragedies, a few ironies.

Opinion:
Seriously didn't know how good this was going to be. If you like pulps, Robert B Parker, Dashiell Hammett,Raymond Chandler or just fine writing try this out. The Big Bite story alone is worth twice the price. Top shelf. One of the best mystery collections I have ever read, writers mentioned above included. Highly recommended.