‘A treasure trove ... One that lovers of crime and mystery writing will want on their shelves’, P D James

This Companion provides scholars and fans of the crime and mystery genre with an authoritative yet playful compendium of knowledge about a literature known for its highly entertaining treatment of deadly serious puzzles. Written by such authorities as Edward D Hoch, Sara Paretsky, and the late Julian Symons, entries cover biographies of great mystery writers, such as Edgar Allan Poe, Rex Stout, and Ruth Rendell, as well as favourite sleuths, such as Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Sam Spade, and Adam Dalgliesh, and master criminals, such as Professor Moriarty and Fu Manchu. Character types, such as the country constable or the femme fatale, are discussed along with other components of mystery writing, including famous clues, authorial ingenuity, and how ‘The Butler Did It’. The Companion also features extended essays on the development of the genre and related schools of writing.