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Product Description
Organized alphabetically with exhaustive cross-references for easy access, "Encyclopedia Mysteriosa" has information on everything and everyone from The Blue Dahlia to Blue Velvet. More than 1,400 entries provide biographies of writers and memorable characters, ranging from Ebenezer Gryce, introduced in 1878 as one of the first recurring genre detectives, to Sam Spade and Jessica Fletcher. There are essays by experts on various aspects of the genre, an appendix listing directories of organizations and major award winners, and a glossary of terms particular to the mystery story, such as whodunit and armchair detective. The late William L. DeAndrea won his third Edgar Award for "Encyclopedia Mysteriosa." He authored 17 mystery, spy, and suspense novels, and was a regular columnist for The Armchair Detective, the premier journal devoted to the mystery.
Amazon.com Review
While it would be impossible for one volume to reference every interesting piece of trivia in the world of mysteries (after all, that's what they make computers for), William DeAndrea has captured most of the key writers, character, movies, TV series, and books in this 1994 Edgar-winning volume. The alphabetical entries often include lengthy lists of books or movies and their publication/release dates--a bonus for completists looking for forgotten Nero Wolfe tales or classic noir films to rent. Some entries, like that for "The A-Team" are tongue-in-cheek: "characters used what critic Ric Meyers has called 'antineutron bullets'--they destroy property for miles around, but never harm a human being." As an added bonus, DeAndrea has included 11 extended essays on historically vital issues like dime novels, pulps, Sherlockiana, and even The Batman. The book closes with a listing of mystery bookstores, organizations and awards, magazines, and a glossary for those of us who forgot what an "Inverted Detective Story" or a "McGuffin" was. --Patrick O'Kelley
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