title: Deadly Women: The Woman Mystery Reader's Indispensable Companion
author: Jan Grape
description: In France, it's a "polar," in Germany a "Krimi." The mystery novel is sometimes defined as paraliterature, but here it receives serious treatment. Ousby (editor of Cambridge Guide to Literature in English, Cambridge Univ., 1994) chronicles the international development of the crime and detective story from its origins to the current state of the art, covering authors from Europe to South Africa. With a well-rounded blend of critical analysis and goodies for the mystery fan, he examines hard-boiled detectives, pulp fiction, female private eyes, and other elements of the crime novel. A film noir filmography, awards lists, chronologies, maps, and glossaries are scattered throughout. Deadly Women is a random compilation of individual essays and interviews with prominent female mystery authors like Nancy Pickard and Janet Evanovich. The articles range from historical accounts of founding ladies like Honey West, the "sexiest private eye ever to pull a trigger," to a discussion of the trials and tribulations of writing a novel and getting it published. Less of an "indispensable companion" than a fireside chat with favorite authors, Grape's work will appeal to budding mystery writers and fans. Ousby's book is recommended for public and academic libraries needing a world overview of the genre for both circulating and reference collections, while Grape's work will circulate in public collections where mysteries are popular.?Kelli N. Perkins, Herrick P.L., Holland, Mich.<br />Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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  PRAISE FOR RUTH WARE’S  
  INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
  
  
  in a dark, dark wood
  
  
  An NPR Best Book of the Year • An Entertainment Weekly Top Ten Summer Read • A
  BuzzFeed “31 Perfect Books to Get Excited About This Summer” Pick • A
  Publishers Weekly “Top Ten Mysteries and Thrillers” Pick • A Bookreporter
  Summer Reading Pick • A New York Post “Best Novels to Read This Summer” Pick •
  A Shelf Awareness “Book Expo America 2015 Buzz Book” Pick
  
  
  “Prepare to be scared . . . Really scared! When I read this page-turning book
  about a bachelorette party gone wrong, I almost bit all my fingernails off!”
  
  
  —Reese Witherspoon
  
  
  “Who pulls a gun at a bachelorette party? The answers are unveiled with
  Gillian Flynn–style trickery.”
  
  
  —O, The Oprah Magazine
  
  
  “Reese Witherspoon’s making it into a movie, so read the book now. Before bed
  at your own risk.”
  
  
  —theSkimm
  
  
  “Just try to guess how sinister this plot can get (hint: VERY).”
  
  
  —Marie Claire
  
  
  “[It] packs a noirish punch that would make the Q