NONFICTION

The Golden Age of Murder: The Mystery of the Writers Who Invented the Modern Detective Story

by Martin Edwards
HarperCollins. 2015. 528p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780008105969. $27.99; ebk. ISBN 9780008105976. LIT
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Crime novelist Edwards (the "Lake District" mysteries) here examines the "Detection Club," a group of famous writers who changed the way detective novels are conceived. The ranks of the club included such seminal authors as Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers, whose lives were as enigmatic and fascinating as their novels. In writing about the authors themselves, Edwards takes a distinct look at the genre and its various influences and well captures the turbulent culture and its effect on these genuinely riveting figures who helped to shape the crime genre. The book's playful charm makes it much more enjoyable than a straightforward biography or genre piece.
VERDICT As popular as detective fiction is, most readers are unaware of the influence "golden age of murder" writers have had on the books, films, and television shows we love. This solid work will appeal primarily to fans of the genre but will also be of interest to literary historians and enthusiasts of literary biographies.
Reviewed by Matthew Gallagher, Victoria, BC , Jun 15, 2015
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