Whodunit?

A Guide to Crime, Suspense & Spy Fiction

edited by H.R.F. Keating

Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York. 1982. Hardcover in dust jacket. 320 pages. (6½ X 9½). Introduction by the editor. The first section has a number of authors describing the different categories of crime fiction; then, a number of authors explain how they write their books. In the next section, a number of authors examine a large number of books according to four categories: Characterization, Plot, Readability, and Tension. Each category is given a row of stars with each book, with the best books getting the longest line of stars. There are many author photos included throughout the book. The next section has many drawings of detectives and others in law enforcement. An index ends the book. A very useful book, but now out-of-date. 

Scan and Commentary by Bob Gaines