msmandrake's review against another edition
3.0
one of those books with stuff you skip, stuff that is interesting and everything inbetween. I did find a few want-to-reads in here. There is an emphasis on classic novels, as one might expect. Some writers are careful not to include spoilers but some do not, so some I stopped reading in the middle as I sensed a spoiler on the way...
bev_reads_mysteries's review against another edition
2.0
The subtitle for Books to Die For (2012) by John Connolly & Declan Burke is The World's Greatest Mystery Writers on the World's Greatest Mystery Novels. I felt from the first that I wasn't sure that I ought to take the word of a book that claims as "the World's Greatest Mystery Writers" a whole slew of people I've never heard of. Not just haven't read...but haven't actually heard of OR seen their books on shelves when browsing. I do not recognize about 80 out 120ish names. [I may have inadvertently counted some twice--some authors submitted more than one novel.] That's quite a lot. Now, granted, I don't read a lot of modern crime fiction--but some of my blogging friends do and I should have at least seen these names go by--If they really are the "World's Greatest." One of the contributors's work is described as "glamorous thrillers/bonkbusters/chick lit...Tart Noir"....um. Not exactly a recommendation in my book. I didn't want to be snobbish about this, really I didn't. But seriously?
So...I wrote the above as I was starting the book. I've now finished it. And, I must say, this is quite the disappointment for a mystery reader. A large percentage of the books recommended are noir, hard-boiled, spy/espionage, or thrillers. Not true mysteries. Some of the recommenders even say that straight up and they themselves are not authors of true mysteries. Fine. But don't be advertise your book as being recommendations on mystery novels by mystery writers. At best, you might say that it's a book of recommendations on crime novels by crime writers. It was a huge disappointment to see how few true vintage mystery novels were mentioned for years representing the Golden Age--one Christie, one Sayers, one Crispin, one Allingham, and one Tey. That's it. And of the later books just a handful would count as mysteries rather than noir and all the rest.
My final take: most of these seem to be books I'd be just fine with having died without having ever read.....I can't say that I'd recommend it for those of you who consider yourself a mystery lover. But--if noir, hard-boiled, spy/espionage, suspense, and/or thrillers are your thing, then this may just be the reference book for you.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
So...I wrote the above as I was starting the book. I've now finished it. And, I must say, this is quite the disappointment for a mystery reader. A large percentage of the books recommended are noir, hard-boiled, spy/espionage, or thrillers. Not true mysteries. Some of the recommenders even say that straight up and they themselves are not authors of true mysteries. Fine. But don't be advertise your book as being recommendations on mystery novels by mystery writers. At best, you might say that it's a book of recommendations on crime novels by crime writers. It was a huge disappointment to see how few true vintage mystery novels were mentioned for years representing the Golden Age--one Christie, one Sayers, one Crispin, one Allingham, and one Tey. That's it. And of the later books just a handful would count as mysteries rather than noir and all the rest.
My final take: most of these seem to be books I'd be just fine with having died without having ever read.....I can't say that I'd recommend it for those of you who consider yourself a mystery lover. But--if noir, hard-boiled, spy/espionage, suspense, and/or thrillers are your thing, then this may just be the reference book for you.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
stephang18's review
2.0
Various famous and not-so-famous mystery writers write two or three pages describing their favorite mystery. Many of the famous mystery writers write instead about themselves.
stanl's review
4.0
Nice reference book. Worth taking the time to read every essay. Even for avid crime fiction buffs there should be some discoveries.
jeanm333's review
4.0
Books to die for is a fun read, but beware - if you are a fan of mysteries, it will add many books to your "to read" list. It's non-fiction, a listing of favorite books by mystery writers. The list is chronological, beginning with Wilkie Collins, Poe, and Sherlock Holmes. (I learned that Holmes afficionados never say the name of the author, since it's assumed that Holmes is/was a real person.) The discussion on each book included how the author found it and why it is a favorite, and how it deserves a place in the list of "world's greatest."
Lots of other fun facts about old and new mystery novels. For example, did you know that Michael Connelly reads a section of Raymond Chandler's "The Little Sister" for inspiration before he begins a new novel?
The book won several awards this year (2013)(the Anthony Award and the Macavity Award) and I can see why. There was a bit too much noir for my taste, and I questioned some of the inclusions (Stephen King?), but apparently authors were allowed to select whatever they wanted. Other novels I would classify more as thriller or suspense than mystery, but I can't question their inclusion (Silence of the Lambs, for example).
Yes, I now have quite a long list of books I want to read, as if I needed more.
Lots of other fun facts about old and new mystery novels. For example, did you know that Michael Connelly reads a section of Raymond Chandler's "The Little Sister" for inspiration before he begins a new novel?
The book won several awards this year (2013)(the Anthony Award and the Macavity Award) and I can see why. There was a bit too much noir for my taste, and I questioned some of the inclusions (Stephen King?), but apparently authors were allowed to select whatever they wanted. Other novels I would classify more as thriller or suspense than mystery, but I can't question their inclusion (Silence of the Lambs, for example).
Yes, I now have quite a long list of books I want to read, as if I needed more.
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