Writing the Private Eye Novel: A Handbook by the Private Eye Writers of America [Hardcover]

Robert J. Randisi (Editor), Private Eye Writers of America (Corporate Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Randisi, founder of the Private Eye Writers of America, has brought together some of the top names in the PI genre to teach wannabe writers of detective novels some of their tricks and tips. Authors Sue Grafton, Lawrence Block, Catherine Dain, Ed Gorman, and others present chapters on topics such as using a writing journal, achieving structure, creating female PIs, and writing a PI series. Not a book on how to write, this focuses on the PI genre and does a wonderful job motivating and giving useful information for someone who wants to begin a novel or bring an old one out of the bottom drawer and make it publishable. Recommended for public libraries.?Lisa J. Cihlar, Winfield P.L., Ill.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 228 pages
• Publisher: Writers Digest Books; 1st edition (September 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898797675
• ISBN-13: 978-0898797671
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,548,049 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great General Book, Geared to the Mystery Writer, August 30, 2004

By 

Imperial Topaz (Marrakesh, Morocco) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Writing the Private Eye Novel: A Handbook by the Private Eye Writers of America (Hardcover)

I am really sorry to see that this book is now about to be out of print, has limited availability in the U.S.! Luckily, it can still be obtained used through Amazon and many other booksellers.

I am starting a mystery, and found this book full of good advice. What it is not full of, however, is "nuts and bolts" type of advice. It is full of "general" advice from various mystery writers.

A number of writers talk about the importance of planning a writing a whole series, if you are just starting out. Many of them mention the importance of reading a lot in the genre. The technique of outlining three or four books mystery books that YOU like (by summarizing each chapter in three or four sentences) will teach you a lot about how to put together a mystery.

The other contributors each have something unique to say. The book is broken into eight chapters, as follows, with two-to-five author contributors of articles for each chapter: Getting Started, Plot and Structure, Creativity, Character, Setting, Writing the PI Short Story, Stretching the Boundaries, and From the Editor's Desk. Personally, I found one article on Trans-Gender Writing in the book to be particularly helpful.

This is a great general book, geared to the mystery writer.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars not a how-to, but a very good tool, July 29, 2006

By 

B. J. Mau (Victoria TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Writing the Private Eye Novel: A Handbook by the Private Eye Writers of America (Hardcover)

Anyone hoping for a mystery recipe book will be dissapointed. This book won't tell you how to write a mystery story, but it will inspire some creativity and hopefully calm some worries (especially for those like myself who haven't done much mystery writing).

I picked up a copy from the "new & used" section of this site for only $.75. That's a steal for a book of this quality.