A tour of the genresI believe, though, that there is more to the popularity of myster-
ies than just great writing. I think that mysteries invoke a common
human fear—the fear of the darkness dwelling inside of us— more
readily than any other form of fiction.
Mysteries are set in real places and involve ordinary people. To
read a mystery is to experience vicariously the sudden violence that
can descend upon any of us, anywhere, at any time. Suspense, hor-
ror, and science fiction novels can do the same thing, but their plot
lines are more exotic, farther removed from our own experience.
Mysteries insert violence into the everyday, and then assure us that
it can be brought under control. That is a fear—and a hope—to
which I think anyone can relate.
Today the mystery field has taken as its domain just about every
time, place, and people that one can imagine. From the world of
wilderness tours to inner-city lesbian bars, there are mystery novels
for all tastes, backgrounds, and interests. Mysteries are also taking
us as far back in time as ancient Egypt. Sometimes I wonder if there
is any milieu still unused.
In addition to the great variety of content, there is also a broad
range of plots and styles in use, everything from pseudo-documen-
tary realism to the cozy English country house puzzle.
If there is one overriding trend in the mystery biz, however, it is
the ascendance of women: authors, editors, agents, bookstore own-
ers, police officers, Pi's, amateurs—you name it. Men are still in the
game, to be sure, but women have won control of the field.
In part this reflects a reality: the readership is mostly female. It is
also a correction of a long-time dearth of mysteries by and about
women. Nancy Pickard once remarked in Publishers Weekly that
women who grew up reading Nancy Drew had to jump to Miss
Marple as adults. While that was never entirely true (witness P. D.
James's Cordelia Gray and Dorothy Gilman's Mrs. Pollifax), the bal-
ance for years weighed in favor of male detectives.
Much of the credit for this reversal of status belongs to an orga-
nization called Sisters in Crime. Formed in 1985, this group of writ-
ers, editors, readers, and booksellers has been extremely active in
advancing the cause of women in the field. Its newsletter, biannual
lists of members' books, speakers' bureau, specialty bookstore lists,