MADDENED BY MYSTERY: A CASEBOOK OF CANADIAN DETECTIVE FICTION
Edited by Michael Richardson.
Volume 11 Number 2.
Maddened by Mystery, edited by Michael Richardson, is the first collection of all-Canadian detective stories. They range from Grant Alien's "Great Ruby Robbery," published in 1893 to the adventure of the annexationist conspiracy by Jack Batten and Michael Bliss (1978). Michael Richardson is co-editor of CDN SF & F,* the first bibliography of Canadian science fiction and fantasy. He co-edited with John Robert Colombo, Not to be Taken at Night: Classic Canadian Tales of Mystery and the Supernatural,** which had very favourable reviews. The title story by Stephen Leacock was included in his book, Nonsense Novels, published in 1911. This is a parody of the popular mystery story and the "defective detective" reminds one of both Sherlock Holmes and Sexton Blake (created by Maurice Dix). Other stories in the collection are by such well-known mystery writers as Margaret Millar, Frank Packard, Vincent Starrett, Arthur Stringer, and James Powell. "Who's Who in Canadian Mystery Fiction" is an annotated listing of detectives, police, and criminals created by Canadian writers, which serves as an appendix. These are interesting, well-written mysteries that will be a valuable addition to the high school resource centres' Canadian short-story collection.
*Reviewed vol. IX/3 1981 p.205.
Jean Keenan, Leaside H. S., Toronto, ON. |
1971-1979 | 1980-1985 | 1986-1990 | 1991-1995
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