Catalog Search Results
Author
Series
Accelerated Reader
IL: UG - BL: 6.3 - AR Pts: 14
Language
English
Description
Maisie Dobbs got her start as a maid in an aristocratic London household when she was thirteen. Her employer, suffragette Lady Rowan Compton, soon became her patron, taking the remarkably bright youngster under her wing. Lady Rowan's friend, Maurice Blanche, often retained as an investigator by the European elite, recognized Maisie's intuitive gifts and helped her earn admission to the prestigious Girton College in Cambridge, where Maisie planned...
Author
Series
Language
English
Description
The international-bestselling author answers readers' questions and discusses the origins of the Oxford inspector with a penchant for classical music.
In 1975, “Inspector Morse” debuted, working to solve the case of a murdered hitchhiker in Colin Dexter's “Last Bus to Woodstock”. The book led to a multimillion-bestselling mystery series and a television show that spawned a spinoff and a prequel. But how did the beloved DCI from Oxford come...
Author
Series
Language
English
Description
The USA Today—bestselling author details how she became a crime novelist and how she created her acclaimed husband-and-wife detective team.
In 1986, Faye Kellerman introduced LAPD detective Peter Decker and widowed yeshiva teacher Rina Lazarus in her crime novel, The Ritual Bath. The debut won Kellerman the 1987 Macavity Award for Best First Novel and turned into a long-running bestselling series. But how exactly did it all come about?
In this...
4) Amos Walker
Author
Language
English
Description
The four-time Shamus Award—winning author takes his readers behind-the-scenes of his long running detective series.
In 1980, readers first encountered hard-boiled private detective Amos Walker as he searches for an ex-mobster's missing daughter in Motor City Blue. Many mysteries and decades later, the investigator is still scuffling with bad guys on the streets of Detroit. But when and where did award-winning author Loren D. Estleman conceive...
Author
Series
Language
English
Description
Retired Marine Gunnery Sgt. Bob Lee Swagger debuted in Stephen Hunter's military action thriller Point of Impact in 1993. The book was the first of many adventures for the fictional sniper and inspired a hit-movie, as well as a television series. But what led to the invention of such a character?
In this quick read, Hunter shares how "the Nailer" came to his kitchen table and subsequently sprang to life. Hunter discusses the real-life hero who served...
6) Condor
Author
Language
English
Description
Decades after his adventure in the classic Six Days of the Condor, the eponymous spy reflects on his life while awaiting his next target in this tense novella.
Ronald Malcolm, codename Condor, is still in the spy game. He may be older now, but in a world where hardly anybody sees anybody, nobody sees old. He's the perfect choice to sit in New York City's Penn Station and wait for what he calls "the killing train." And while he waits for someone...
Author
Series
Language
English
Description
The bestselling author shares how he developed his celebrated sleuth, a Nottingham detective akin to Jim Rockford but dressed like Columbo.
In 1989, Lonely Hearts, a police procedural by John Harvey, introduced Det. Insp. Charlie Resnick to the world. The book was followed by a series and went on to be named one of the 100 Best Crime Novels of the Last Century by the Times. But how did the sandwich-loving policeman and jazz aficionado come to be?
In...
8) Spenser
Author
Series
Language
English
Description
The Boston PI agrees to an interview in this entertaining blend of short story and biographical profile by the legendary mystery author.
Spenser and his psychologist girlfriend, Susan, are relaxing in a courtyard on a lovely June afternoon. But accompanying them is Susan's friend Amy, and she's got a project: a book examining the men in risky professions-cops, firemen, special forces soldiers . . . and PIs. Requesting some help in her research,...
9) Lou Boldt
Author
Series
Language
English
Description
The New York Times–bestselling author's "engaging cop hero" finds himself on the other side of the interview room in this revealing short story (Publishers Weekly).
After twenty-seven years on the force, Lt. Lou Boldt is suddenly seated at a table being grilled as part of an internal investigation. They want him to talk about what happened with ten grand in cash in the evidence room. As the pressure mounts and Boldt leads his interrogators...
Author
Series
Language
English
Description
The #1 New York Times—bestselling author discusses his early days as a writer and the creation of his beloved psychologist and sleuth.
In 1985, clinical child psychologist Alex Delaware made his debut in the mystery novel When the Bough Breaks by Jonathan Kellerman. But how did Kellerman create a character who would go on to win him Edgar and Anthony Awards for best first novel and make him a number, one New York Times—bestselling author?
Discover...
11) Joe Pickett
Author
Series
Language
English
Description
The #1 New York Times–bestselling author shares the origin story of his infamous game warden character, Joe Pickett, as he investigates a local poachers attack.
Since his first appearance in Open Season, Wyoming gamekeeper Joe Pickett has solved all sorts of mysteries. But now his daughter, Sheridan, would like to solve the mystery that is her father . . .
The Pickett family is gathered around the table for Thanksgiving dinner when they're...
Author
Series
Language
English
Description
In this short story, the New York Times—bestselling author delves into the private lives and personal histories of her "extremely congenial characters" (The Philadelphia Inquirer).
It is 1912, and Peter Naylor calls at the home of Lady Vespasia Cumming-Gould, longtime friend of Thomas Pitt and his wife, Charlotte. Clouds are gathering in Europe, and the prime minister is considering Thomas to head up the country's intelligence services-the king...
13) Lincoln Rhyme
Author
Series
Language
English
Description
The New York Times–bestselling author reflects on the life and career of his character, NYPD forensic scientist Lincoln Rhyme, in this short story.
The line between the disabled and the non-disabled is shrinking. Computers, video cameras, high-definition monitors, biometric devices and voice recognition software have moved my life closer to that of somebody who's fully able bodied, while the same technology is creating a more sedentary, house-bound...
14) Jack Taylor
Author
Series
Language
English
Description
A portrait of the PI from the Shamus Award winner who created him: "They don't come much tougher than Ken Bruen's Irish roughneck, Jack Taylor." -The New York Times Book Review
In this short work, Edgar Award finalist Ken Bruen-"a Celtic Dashiell Hammett"-takes us deeper into his character Jack Taylor, formerly of Ireland's police force, the Garda Síochána, now a living-on-the-edge private detective (The Philadelphia Inquirer).
"Jack, as ja...
15) Ian Rutledge
Author
Series
Language
English
Description
The New York Times—bestselling author discusses the creation of their beloved English police inspector and his long-running mystery series.
Scotland Yard's Insp. Ian Rutledge made his debut in 1996 with Charles Todd's historical police procedural “A Test of Wills”. Many years and cases later, the shell-shocked World War I veteran has won over readers far and wide. But how did such a troubled yet wise character come to be?
Writing together...
16) Charlie Parker
Author
Series
Language
English
Description
The New York Times–bestselling author tells the story behind private detective Charlie Parker, the haunted hero of John Connolly's eerie supernatural crime thrillers.
Recounting his days as a journalist for the Irish Times and the Dublin murder that led him to question the ways we think about perpetrators and victims; discussing his crime-fiction idols; and reflecting on empathy and evil, John Connolly offers a short work that lets us learn more...
17) Ben Kincaid
Author
Series
Language
English
Description
In 1991, William Bernhardt's novel, “Primary Justice”, introduced his character Ben Kincaid to the world. The fictional Oklahoma City lawyer has come a long way since his days as a junior associate at a high-powered law firm. In this essay, Bernhardt guides readers through Ben's journey in the long-running series, discussing everything from the development of his character to what's next for Ben. Bernhardt also talks about his experience working...
18) Tess Monaghan
Author
Series
Language
English
Description
The New York Times—bestselling author of Hush Hush interviews the lead character of her hit series.
In 1997, the character of Tess Monaghan debuted in Laura Lippman's detective novel, Baltimore Blues. The book launched the bestselling series that continues to delight readers decades later. But who exactly is Theresa Esther Weinstein Monaghan when she's not tackling troublesome cases?
In this fictional article, author Laura Lippman takes you to...
19) Mallory
Author
Series
Language
English
Description
When the NYPD detective and sociopath known simply as Mallory made her series debut, John Sandford called her "one of the most interesting new characters to come along in years." A homeless wild child who was taken in by a New York City cop and grew up to follow in his footsteps, she possesses a skill set-including a talent for computer hacking-that allows her to track down her prey like no one else. In this insightful essay, author Carol O'Connell...
Author
Series
Language
English
Description
The New York Times—bestselling author tells the story of how he created his popular San Francisco sleuth.
In 1989, everyman “Dismas Hardy” debuted in John Lescroart's mystery, “Dead Irish”. It's a story millions of readers have enjoyed, along with other entries in the New York Times—bestselling series. But a tale they may not know is how Lescroat invented the ex-Marine, ex-cop, and ex-lawyer turned sleuth.
In this brief autobiographical...