Customer Rating: 
Summary: Good advice, but not very user-friendly
Comment: This is a kind of "anthology" reference book on writing modern mysteries for want-to-be authors. Everything from where to look for inspiration, building a good plot, mastering ambience and effective character and dialogue development is here. What is also here - and very much present - is, in fact, the influence of crime writers. For example, the first chapter discusses the general "rules" for writing a mystery. I find it too partial to the modern, American crime writers, depecting the use of violence, certain cities, etc.; as the optimal places to write mysteries about. Other writers, like Tony Hillerman, who writes mysteries about the Navajo indians, writes a kind of pedantic chapter, very much geared towards people like him, who are established writers; but that the novice can find discouraging.
I find the most helpful, and best written chapter of all is one of the last ones, written by Ruth Gavin, a mystery editor; where she tells exactly what an editor is looking for in a mystery and what the readers are looking for as well. She definitely helps the first time writer to get published.
I find the traditional, cozy or not, British mystery the most enticing, entertaining and relaxing. If you are this kind of writer, this book is not going to appeal much to you. Although I would still reccomend you browse it, I suggest "You can write a mystery", by Gillian Roberts. On the other hand, if you are a Sue Grafton fan - who, by the way, is the editor of this book -, and you also like Tom Clancy and Robert Ludlum; you will find this volume very appealing.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Very good handbook for the novice mystery writer.
Comment: Novice writers of this genre and those who just love to read mystery books will get a lot from this book. The essayists are all published writers of the genre who give expert advice with excellent examples to guide the reader toward better understanding.
