Amazon.com Review
Simply put, Mystery! A Celebration is a beautiful book. For any fan who has been captivated by the Edward Gorey cartoons, the erudite words of Vincent Price and Diana Rigg, or the tastefully assembled mysteries that make up the beloved PBS series, the volume (as P.D. James writes in the foreword) "will give immense pleasure." The book begins with a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the early years of the series and includes an interview with Gorey, comments by Diana Rigg, and parting words from Vincent Price. The centerpiece, however, is the complete record of Mystery! episodes from 1980-1997, with in-depth coverage of all the major detective characters and "denizens of the dark side," from Sherlock Holmes to Sweeney Todd. Color and black-and-white photographs grace almost every page, and key series are followed by a bibliography and profiles of the actors and authors. A 100-question quiz and a list of show credits close the book. The only disappointment: realizing the quality episodes you have missed. --Patrick O'Kelley
From Booklist
Capitalizing on the popularity of the long-running PBS Mystery series, Miller has concocted a fanzine for the public-TV set. He lists each series that has appeared on the show since its inception in 1980, providing plot summaries, cast lists, reviews, photos, and interviews with authors, directors, and actors. Some of the trivia proves quite fascinating. An interview with John Thaw, who plays the popular Inspector Morse, reveals that even though Thaw doesn't drink, loyal fans constantly ply him with offers of ale and bitter on Morse's behalf. Sherlock Holmes fans will be delighted to know that the Abbey National Building Society, located at 217^-229 Baker Street, employs a full-time secretary to answer the hundreds of letters addressed to Holmes at his fictional 221b Baker St. headquarters. The book is well organized, well documented, and mostly well written, and it provides the kind of inside info that will delight Mystery fans hungry for details about the series. Lowbrow fun for highbrows. Emily Melton
