For all those Mystery and Suspense readers who wonder about the roots of their favorite genres, want to know about titles and authors they may have missed, or read about the up-and-coming writers to look for, check out Patrick Anderson’s Triumph of the Thriller. Anderson writes a weekly book review column for the Washington Post, and is the author of nine Mystery and Political Thriller novels. From the pulp crime novels of Hammett and Chandler to the detailed characterizations and intricate plots of writers like George Pelecanos and Karin Slaughter, Anderson assesses the landscape and gives his own idiosyncratic take on the state of publishing. His major premise: many of today’s Thriller writers are writing the same social critique and realistic styles that in past years might have been found only in the hands of literary writers or muckracking journalists. Anderson’s clear, wry style makes this quick reading, but his insights will change the way you look at popular novels. His list of favorites alone promises good reading, but readers can also take away a multi-hued selection of the best modern Thrillers. (Check out the plot summary for The X President by Philip E. Baruth.) (2007, 813.0872 AND, 272 pages)
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