Writing the Private Eye Novel: A Handbook by the Private Eye Writers of America

by Robert J. Randisi (Editor)

Mystery writers such as Lawrence Block, Sue Grafton, and Parnell Hall offer advice and tips on writing the private eye novel

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Mystery

228 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Robert Joseph Randisi was a prolific American author, editor, and screenwriter, best known for his work in detective and Western fiction. He wrote over 650 books, including The Gunsmith series under the pen name J.R. Roberts, and edited more than 30 anthologies. A co-founder of Mystery Scene magazine, the American Crime Writers League, and Western Fictioneers, he also established The Private Eye Writers of America and created the Shamus Award. Randisi collaborated on novels with Eileen Davidson and Vince Van Patten, and created memorable characters such as Miles Jacoby, Joe Keough, and The Rat Pack. He received multiple lifetime achievement awards and the John Seigenthaler Humanitarian Award.

Reviews

[Michael Slavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book that lets you see how the sausage is made. Since I have written two crime thrillers already, it was comforting hearing very accomplished authors describe how they wrote. Highly recommend for anyone wanting to write a book or has already written a few and want a different perspective.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative and helpful, but some chapters weren’t relevant to me. As with all non-fiction It was slow reading (for me at least).

[Robert Bagnall · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a published writer with a couple of crime short stories out there, who has felt he's been able to give a thriller-ish paint job to a tale without ever getting to grips with the fundamental underlying whodunnit structure, I found very little here to take away. Not helped - not it's fault - by the way the publishing world has moved on in the age of the interweb, making the final section almost quaint.

[Lori Robinett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a roundup of advice from several private eye writers. I appreciated the depth of information covered here. The topics were both useful and entertaining. This is definitely a book I'll keep on my resource bookshelf for future reference.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpectedly good. A lot of good insights

[BookLever · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a GREAT book. Not just because it has loads of info and guidence but because you can actually read it like a book, albeit a short stories book but a book. It reads more like a group of short memoirs than a how to. Lots of advice on how not to write the way they do (any number of the contributors state this) because according so-and-so they're doing it all wrong and loads of stories about how they got started. Inspirational, makes you just want to pick up a pen and get started. Just great book and a GREAT read.

[Joe Alfieri · Rating 5 out of 5]

A terrific book. Information, inspiration, anecdotes and tips that help illuminate the path to writing that languishing novel...
Only complaint is that it's so good that now I have to go buy the darn thing, for my library.

[David Burnham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an excellent resource for the potential mystery writer. Admittedly, some of the references are a little dated now, but the if you want to see how established authors of the genre did it, this is a must-read book.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another good reference book for anyone who's writing cozies or mysteries that feature a PI. It's a must-have for their book collection.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

808.3872 Writing handbook by the Private Eye Writers of America