Scene of the Crime

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 Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö (Stockholm), Paco Ignacio Taibo II (Mexico City), Leonardo Sciascia (Sicily) and Lindsey Davis (Ancient Rome).

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

David Geherin
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 223
Bibliographic Info: bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2008
pISBN: 978-0-7864-3298-1
eISBN: 978-1-4766-0815-0
Imprint: McFarland

Preface      1
Introduction The Importance of Place in Fiction      3
1. Georges Simenon Paris      9
2. Donna Leon Venice      21
3. Tony Hillerman The American Southwest      35
4. Walter Mosley South Central Los Angeles      49
5. George P. Pelecanos Washington, D.C.      63
6. Sara Paretsky Chicago      81
7. James Lee Burke Southern Louisiana      93
8. Carl Hiaasen South Florida      109
9. Ian Rankin Edinburgh      123
10. Alexander McCall Smith Botswana      137
11. James McClure South Africa      149
12. Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö Stockholm      161
13. Paco Ignacio Taibo II Mexico City      169
14. Leonardo Sciascia Sicily      179
15. Lindsey Davis Ancient Rome      185
Works Consulted      197
Index      211

• Finalist, Edgar Award—Mystery Writers of America. Finalist, Macavity Award—Mystery Readers International
• “One of the best academic writers on crime fiction for more than a quarter-century…the author does the expected solid job”—Mystery Scene