Review: The Lineup by Otto Penzler

The most venerated and bestselling authors in the mystery world reveal how they created their most beloved characters.

A great recurring character in a series you love becomes an old friend. You learn about their strange quirks and their haunted pasts and root for them every time they face danger. But where do some of the most fascinating sleuths in the mystery and thriller world really come from?

What was the real-life location that inspired Michael Connelly to make Harry Bosch a Vietnam vet tunnel rat? Why is Jack Reacher a drifter? How did a brief encounter in Botswana inspire Alexander McCall Smith to create Precious Ramotswe? In THE LINEUP, some of the top mystery writers in the world tell about the genesis of their most beloved characters--or, in some cases, let their creations do the talking.

I'm always fascinated by how an author comes up with a story so this was just the book for me. Perhaps the most interesting information was in the Introduction where Otto Penzler explains how this book came about. In searching for a way to bring income to his sinking bookstore he hired authors to write essays and stories that he sold in limited editions. Since they were extremely successful he decided to combine them into one book and make them available to everyone. I'm so glad he did!

I'm not familiar with all of these twenty-two authors' work but I have read many of them. These stories are filled with creative and interesting tidbits about themselves and their characters. I'm always curious to hear more about Lee Childs, Jeffrey Deaver, Jonathan Kellerman and Laura Lippman among others.

My hubby was thrilled to hear that David Morrell, the author of First Blood, was inspired to write his story about John Rambo the Vietnam war vet, after teaching at Penn State University in the 70s. Although the story isn't set in Pennsylvania, a small town near the university is the model for the town in the book. Since my hubby is from that small town he was thrilled to hear the news! He had to watch the movie, and it's two sequels, all over again and he was convinced that in the opening scene he saw the bridge that he rode his bike across as a kid. Well, he didn't really believe it since I pointed it out to him time and time again that the movie setting was only inspired by the town but hey, a guy can dream. And what a cool story!

If you're a fan of mysteries you might be interested in this collection too. And if you're lucky, you may just find your own brush with fame within the pages.

Thank you to Hatchette Books for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Release date: 11/10/09
Pages: 320
Price/format: $25.99/hardcover
Type: Mystery

Contest - mystery and crime stories

Closed - thank you for entering!

In honor of my 222 followers and my 1 year anniversary it's time for another contest! Hatchette Books has so graciously offered some of their great new November titles for my mystery, crime drama lovers. There will be one winner for each book and one grand prize winner will get all three books! So that's four big winners! You can enter for as many as you want but can only win one. Please let me know your preferences in your entry. You must follow to enter.


I ALEX CROSS by James Patterson

Detective Alex Cross is pulled out of a family celebration and given the awful news that a beloved relative has been found brutally murdered. Alex vows to hunt down the killer, and soon learns that she was mixed up in one of Washington's wildest scenes. And she was not this killer's only victim.

http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/books_9780316018784.htm


THE LINEUP edited by Otto Penzler

The World's Greatest Crime Writers Tell the Inside Story of Their Greatest Detectives. Including Lee Child, Lincoln Child, Michael Connelly, Jeffrey Deaver, Laura Lippman, Ridley Pearson, Douglas Preston, Ian Rankin and more!

http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/books_9780316031936.htm




HOLLYWOOD MOON by Joseph Wambaugh

Wambaugh once again masterfully gets inside the hearts and minds of the cops whose jobs have them constantly on the brink of danger. By turns heart-wrenching, exhilarating, and laugh-out-loud funny, Hollywood Moon is his most thrilling and deeply affecting ride yet through the singular streets of LA.

http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/books_9780316045186.htm



Contest:
One copy of each book will be given away and a grand prize winner will get all three. There will be a total of four winners.

Rules:
- Leave a comment that has something to do with mystery/crime/drama. Your favorite book or author? Maybe a fascinating true crime? Hopefully not one that you committed yourself!
- You must be a follower in some way for your entry to count. Tell me how.
- Don't forget your email address! I've had people miss out on their prize because I had no way to reach them.
- Tell me which book(s) you would like, or enter for all four choices.
- Contest ends October 31st at 11:59 p.m. EST
- U.S. and Canada only (sorry!)
- Four winners will be drawn by Random.org

Extra entries: (can be put into one comment)
+1 new follower
+2 already follow
+2 extra entries if you promote this contest and leave a link.