Being a mystery fan, I like to know more than just the author’s name or mystery’s title before I dig in. This over-sized, informative book is more than I hoped for.  I recommend it to all mystery fans, new and old. Each time you glance through it, you can’t help but come away with something you didn’t know before about the authors, their work, the mystery genre itself and what keeps it growing. Bruce F. Murphy has left no stone unturned; he has included everyone in the mystery field, not just the old classics or most popular.

 I really enjoy the non-fiction books that give us inside revelation to the whodunit genre. The Encyclopedia of Murder and Mystery is just that kind. It’s more than a listing of authors and titles. Once you read the Preface explaining the triumph of the mystery story, you will enter into a book that lists mystery information in a dictionary/encyclopedia type style. You will find listings of authors, pseudonyms, titles, characters, poisons, mystery expressions, conventions, mystery awards, and more. It’s great. 

It’s an informative guide of well over 500 pages and worth every penny. If the cost is too much for your pocket book, I recommend the book clubs that are offering it a little cheaper.