Strange Cases: A Selective Guide to Speculative Mystery Fiction

(Hardback)

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Description

The pleasures of mystery novels and speculative fiction double when the two genres meet in a single book. Placing a compelling mystery story within a paranormal context adds even more mystery to the story. While these books are popular with readers, locating them can be a challenge. They do not fit into any single category, so they get scattered through collections and store shelves, with some series shelved in science fiction, some in horror, and some in mystery. Organized alphabetically by author name and series title, this detailed guide offers readers a one-stop reference and resource to approximately 700 supernatural and speculative mysteries, with most (about 80 percent) being series titles. It covers mysteries crossed with various types of speculative fiction, including: Mysteries with a future settings; mysteries involving sorcery; mysteries set in other worlds; mysteries featuring ghosts; and mysteries featuring vampires. Focus is on the best, most representative, most current and easily accessible publications, with an emphasis on series novels. Most have been released in the past decade, with select classic speculative mysteries also annotated. Each series entry names the scene of the crime; identifies the detective and his or her chief associates; notes the series premise; comments on characteristics, features, and overall series quality; and discusses the critical response. Individual series titles (The Cases) are then listed and described in series (or chronological) order. Additional access to titles is provided through detailed indexes (book titles, protagonist names, series titles and genres crossed). Academic, public, and high school librarians will welcome this guide as a valuable reference, readers' advisory, and collection development tool. For those who want to read speculative mysteries in sequence, this is an essential guide; and for those seeking background information on speculative mysteries to guide their reading or collection

Reviews

Although authors have been mixing speculative fiction and mystery for decades, the sometimes rigid categories in libraries and bookstores can make it hard for readers to find books that combine the two genres. To the rescue comes this fat volume that includes information for about 700 books (most published since the mid-1990s) that combine speculative (and supernatural) fiction with mysteries. . . . This is an essential reference for libraries and for fans of this type of crossover fiction. * Reference & Research Book News *
If you are looking for a paranormal/police procedural mystery or for an anthropomorphic animal solving a hard-boiled mystery you will find it in this reference . . .This reference is targeted to collection development specialists, book group leaders, and the avid general reader of this genre looking for more information on a favorite series or for a new author to explore. * ARBAonline *
Ultimately, this work brings detailed analysis to a new area of fiction, making it essential for institutions that collect this literature. * Booklist *

Author Bio

JILL VASSILAKOS is Head of Government Publications and Technical Services at the Pfau Library and a co-author of Murder in Retrospect. PAUL VASSILAKOS-LONG is currently a student (Philosophy Major) at U.C.L.A. and is applying to Master's programs in Library and Information Science.