Scene of the Crime - by David Geherin (Paperback)

About the Book

Offering analysis of the fiction of 15 authors, this book focuses on the many ways that setting and place figure in modern crime and mystery novels. After an introductory chapter dealing with a general consideration of place in fiction, subsequent chapters consider the works of recent mystery writers for whom setting greatly contributes to overall literary style. Topics explored include the afro-centric urban Los Angeles environment in Walter Mosleys Devil in a Blue Dress, the small-town exoticism of James Lee Burkes southern Louisiana in The Neon Rain, and the gritty South African setting of James McClures The Steam Pig.

Book Synopsis

Offering analysis of the fiction of 15 authors for whom the setting greatly contributes to their overall literary style, this book focuses on the many ways that "place" figures in modern crime and mystery novels.

The authors (and their settings) are: Georges Simenon (Paris), Donna Leon (Venice), Tony Hillerman (American Southwest), Walter Mosley (South Central Los Angeles), George P. Pelecanos (Washington, D.C.), Sara Paretsky (Chicago), James Lee Burke (Southern Louisiana), Carl Hiaasen (South Florida), Ian Rankin (Edinburgh), Alexander McCall Smith (Botswana), James McClure (South Africa), Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo (Stockholm), Paco Ignacio Taibo II (Mexico City), Leonardo Sciascia (Sicily) and Lindsey Davis (Ancient Rome).

Review Quotes

"one of the best academic writers on crime fiction for more than a quarter-century...the author does the expected solid job"-Mystery Scene.

About the Author

David Geherin, a professor emeritus of English at Eastern Michigan University, is the author of eleven books on crime fiction, four of which were finalists for the Mystery Writers of America's Edgar Allan Poe Award. He lives in Ypsilanti, Michigan.