"Icons of Mystery and Crime Detection: From Sleuths to Superheroes" is an insightful look at one of our most popular and diverse fictional genres, providing a guided tour of mystery and crime writing by focusing on two dozen of the fieldAs most enduring creations and creators.

"Icons of Mystery and Crime Detection" spans the history of the detective story with series of critical entries on the fieldAs most evocative names, from the originator of the form, Edgar Allan Poe, to its first popular running character, Sherlock Holmes; from the Golden Age of Sam Spade, Philip Marlowe, and Charlie Chan-in fiction and films-to small screen heroes, such as Columbo and Jessica Fletcher. Also included are other accomplished practitioners of the craft of mystery/crime storytelling, including Agatha Christie, Tony Hillerman, and Alfred Hitchcock.