Library Journal
Gorman and his team of editors provide a breezy compendium of nearly anything a mystery fan might find of interest. Sections on every type and subtype of crime and mystery writing are spiced by interviews with writers, booksellers, and editors. One section is devoted to regional writers/detectives from the Midwest, the South, New York, Chicago, and other points of the compass. Sprinkled throughout are lists of recommended titles and favorite books, and there are even descriptions of conventions, fans, fanzines, pulps, mystery magazines, and mystery bookstores (with a lengthy list for visiting or writing). The quality of the writing is uneven: some essays are delightfully witty and insightful, while others are simply narrative lists of books and authors in a genre. Considering the modest price, however, you'll want to buy two copies: one for patrons and one for the reader's adviser.-- Denise Johnson, Bradley Univ. Lib., Peoria, Ill.