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Private Investigations: Mystery Writers on the Secrets, Riddles, and Wonders in Their Lives
In this thrilling anthology, bestselling mystery writers abandon the cloak of fiction to investigate the suspenseful secrets in their own lives.
For many of us, a good, heart-pounding mystery is the perfect escape from real-world confusion and chaos. But what about the writers who create those stories of suspense and intrigue? How do our favorite novelists cope with our perplexing world, and what mysteries keep them up at night?
In Private Investigations, twenty fan-favorite mystery writers share first-person tales of mysteries they've encountered at home and in the world. Caroline Leavitt regales us with a medical mystery, recounting a time when she lost her voice and doctors couldn't find a cure, Martin Limón travels back to his military stint in Korea to grapple with the crimes of war, Anne Perry ponders the magical powers of stories conjured from writers' imaginations, and more.
Exploring all the tropes of the genre -- from haunted houses and elusive perpetrators to regrouping after missed signals have derailed them -- these writers' true tales show just how much art imitates life, and how, ultimately, we are all private investigators in our own real-world dramas.
For many of us, a good, heart-pounding mystery is the perfect escape from real-world confusion and chaos. But what about the writers who create those stories of suspense and intrigue? How do our favorite novelists cope with our perplexing world, and what mysteries keep them up at night?
In Private Investigations, twenty fan-favorite mystery writers share first-person tales of mysteries they've encountered at home and in the world. Caroline Leavitt regales us with a medical mystery, recounting a time when she lost her voice and doctors couldn't find a cure, Martin Limón travels back to his military stint in Korea to grapple with the crimes of war, Anne Perry ponders the magical powers of stories conjured from writers' imaginations, and more.
Exploring all the tropes of the genre -- from haunted houses and elusive perpetrators to regrouping after missed signals have derailed them -- these writers' true tales show just how much art imitates life, and how, ultimately, we are all private investigators in our own real-world dramas.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published April 21, 2020
17 people are currently reading
1969 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Zackheim
19 books82 followersVictoria Zackheim is the author of the novel, The Bone Weaver, and editor of six anthologies, the most recent being FAITH: Essays From Believers, Agnostics, and Atheists. Her screenplay, Maidstone, a feature film, is in development, as are her theater plays The Other Woman and Entangled. Victoria also writes documentary films and teaches creative nonfiction (Personal Essay) in the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program. She is a 2010 San Francisco Library Laureate.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
June 22, 2020
“Private Investigations: Mystery Writers on the Secrets, Riddles and Wonders in Their Lives” (2020) compiled and edited by Victoria Zackheim is an inviting and engaging compilation of the writing lives of 20 gifted and notable American and international NYT bestselling authors. With such a wide and vast availability of talent in the national and international literary scene this book is a welcome opportunity for readers and book critics to quickly identify unfamiliar authors and new books of interest.
The themes of these stories begin naturally with the writing life, the events in individual lives that matter: from childhood, coming-of-age, relationships, marriage, the despair of divorce and aftermath, aging, health, illness and wellness.
Another multi-theme in these stories covered the subject of War, Jacqueline Winspear observed the “grotesque dark beauty” of the haunting experience in writing about this genre.
Several author’s included stories of paranormal experiences and how their writing was influenced by the afterlife and spiritualist experiences. After the murder of a brother of a close friend, Hallie Ephron was assured that those like Jeffery Dahmer were not permitted to remain in spirit due to the forces of evil. In “A Trick of Light”: Kristen Lepionka encountered a ghostly presence after moving to a new apartment.
“We don’t receive wisdom. We must discover it for ourselves after a journey no one can take for us or spare us” (Marcel Proust) William Kent Krueger wrote of his mother’s mental illness in “Ordinary Grace”. The story began with his observations as a 6 year old, though he didn’t begin the book until after his mother’s death. Sulari Genthill wrote of her family secret: the existence of her older disabled brother who was a resident of the South Asian Angoda Asylum for over 30 years. Connie Mae Fowler revealed her young childhood suicide attempt.
Asuma Zehanat Khan recalled the profound effect of seeing a resettlement/refugee camp for the first time. When she asked her father about the identity of those contained: “Who are they?”- her father’s serious reply was: “They are your brother’s and sister’s.” Khan said it was impossible to trace the heritage of families like hers, with Pakistani Heritage linked to Pushtun Muslims from Afghanistan and Northern India. No official records were ever kept on such families.
Another fascinating story included was from Zackheim, who explained a paranormal experience; she is a featured conference speaker, and teaches creative non-fiction at the UCLA Extension Writers Program. Zackheim is the author of several notable books, anthologies and collected stories, including: “For Keeps: Women Tell The Truth About Their Bodies, Growing Older and Acceptance” (2007). Zackheim lives in Northern California.
The themes of these stories begin naturally with the writing life, the events in individual lives that matter: from childhood, coming-of-age, relationships, marriage, the despair of divorce and aftermath, aging, health, illness and wellness.
Another multi-theme in these stories covered the subject of War, Jacqueline Winspear observed the “grotesque dark beauty” of the haunting experience in writing about this genre.
Several author’s included stories of paranormal experiences and how their writing was influenced by the afterlife and spiritualist experiences. After the murder of a brother of a close friend, Hallie Ephron was assured that those like Jeffery Dahmer were not permitted to remain in spirit due to the forces of evil. In “A Trick of Light”: Kristen Lepionka encountered a ghostly presence after moving to a new apartment.
“We don’t receive wisdom. We must discover it for ourselves after a journey no one can take for us or spare us” (Marcel Proust) William Kent Krueger wrote of his mother’s mental illness in “Ordinary Grace”. The story began with his observations as a 6 year old, though he didn’t begin the book until after his mother’s death. Sulari Genthill wrote of her family secret: the existence of her older disabled brother who was a resident of the South Asian Angoda Asylum for over 30 years. Connie Mae Fowler revealed her young childhood suicide attempt.
Asuma Zehanat Khan recalled the profound effect of seeing a resettlement/refugee camp for the first time. When she asked her father about the identity of those contained: “Who are they?”- her father’s serious reply was: “They are your brother’s and sister’s.” Khan said it was impossible to trace the heritage of families like hers, with Pakistani Heritage linked to Pushtun Muslims from Afghanistan and Northern India. No official records were ever kept on such families.
Another fascinating story included was from Zackheim, who explained a paranormal experience; she is a featured conference speaker, and teaches creative non-fiction at the UCLA Extension Writers Program. Zackheim is the author of several notable books, anthologies and collected stories, including: “For Keeps: Women Tell The Truth About Their Bodies, Growing Older and Acceptance” (2007). Zackheim lives in Northern California.
April 29, 2020
Private Investigations is a collection of non-fiction stories from twenty mystery writers: stories of secrets, riddles and wonders of their lives. It is edited by Victoria Zackheim.
Many of the stories in this collection are the perfect length for reading in small bites. Highlights are the contributions by Robert Dugoni, Sulari Gentill, Caroline Leavitt, Steph Cha, William Kent Krueger, Kristen Lepionka, Martin Limon, Halie Ephron and Carole Nelson Douglas.
Hallie Ephron writes about a friend’s communication with her murdered brother.
Jeffery Deaver solves the mystery of being able to live a writer’s life.
Sulari Gentill describes the unexplained boy in family photos that fascinated during childhood.
Cara Black connects with Paris as a writing experience inspired by Maigret.
Connie May Fowler veers from a youthful suicide attempt to a Mexican operating theatre via a cruel mother.
Martin Limon ponders the mystery of life: food, clothing, love and the puzzle of language as a young soldier in post-war Korea, and the secret society that is the US military.
Willian Kent Krueger relates how writing Ordinary Grace helped unravel for him the mystery of his beautiful, talented, clairvoyant, alcoholic, mentally ill mother and his own habit of fabrication.
Ausma Zehanat Khan explains how the mysteries of her family’s past are incorporated into her writing.
Kristen Lepionka describes a series of eerie, unexplained incidents in a new apartment that could be a haunting.
Lynn Cahoon always wondered how women in bad relationships didn’t see the monster they were living with until she ended up there herself.
Rhys Bowen muses on how and why her fascination with wartimes became a significant part of her novels.
Rachel Howzell Hall describes how a diagnosis introduced a whole new, unwelcome vocabulary and resulted in her punching back with words in novels.
Steph Cha at twenty-one, a ground-floor apartment, a peeping tom in the alley, frozen: insight into failure to defend oneself and ever-present danger.
Jacqueline Winspear muses (at length) on how she came to write about the war and crime and mystery, influenced by her family’s wartime experience and her mother’s career.
Tasha Alexander asks “Can we live without mystery?” Short answer: no. Think Princes Diana’s death, Kennedy assassination, the Romanovs…
Carole Nelson Douglas’s father’s sudden and forever absence at a young age, and being an only child left to find answers for herself, gave her a lifelong need to solve life’s mysteries small and large. Career godfathers played a large part.
Caroline Leavitt mysteriously loses her voice. On the long path to recovery and a new voice, she becomes a pantser rather than a plotter, both in writing and life.
Charles Todd details the meticulous research undertaken to make his wartime mysteries authentic.
Robert Dugoni accidentally discovers at twelve years old that “It is the biggest mystery in writing— how to emotionally touch your reader with just your words.” But it takes many years and a non-renewal of a contract before he understands the way to do that is to write from the heart and not the brain.
Anne Perry says much the same, just not as well…
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Perseus Books
Many of the stories in this collection are the perfect length for reading in small bites. Highlights are the contributions by Robert Dugoni, Sulari Gentill, Caroline Leavitt, Steph Cha, William Kent Krueger, Kristen Lepionka, Martin Limon, Halie Ephron and Carole Nelson Douglas.
Hallie Ephron writes about a friend’s communication with her murdered brother.
Jeffery Deaver solves the mystery of being able to live a writer’s life.
Sulari Gentill describes the unexplained boy in family photos that fascinated during childhood.
Cara Black connects with Paris as a writing experience inspired by Maigret.
Connie May Fowler veers from a youthful suicide attempt to a Mexican operating theatre via a cruel mother.
Martin Limon ponders the mystery of life: food, clothing, love and the puzzle of language as a young soldier in post-war Korea, and the secret society that is the US military.
Willian Kent Krueger relates how writing Ordinary Grace helped unravel for him the mystery of his beautiful, talented, clairvoyant, alcoholic, mentally ill mother and his own habit of fabrication.
Ausma Zehanat Khan explains how the mysteries of her family’s past are incorporated into her writing.
Kristen Lepionka describes a series of eerie, unexplained incidents in a new apartment that could be a haunting.
Lynn Cahoon always wondered how women in bad relationships didn’t see the monster they were living with until she ended up there herself.
Rhys Bowen muses on how and why her fascination with wartimes became a significant part of her novels.
Rachel Howzell Hall describes how a diagnosis introduced a whole new, unwelcome vocabulary and resulted in her punching back with words in novels.
Steph Cha at twenty-one, a ground-floor apartment, a peeping tom in the alley, frozen: insight into failure to defend oneself and ever-present danger.
Jacqueline Winspear muses (at length) on how she came to write about the war and crime and mystery, influenced by her family’s wartime experience and her mother’s career.
Tasha Alexander asks “Can we live without mystery?” Short answer: no. Think Princes Diana’s death, Kennedy assassination, the Romanovs…
Carole Nelson Douglas’s father’s sudden and forever absence at a young age, and being an only child left to find answers for herself, gave her a lifelong need to solve life’s mysteries small and large. Career godfathers played a large part.
Caroline Leavitt mysteriously loses her voice. On the long path to recovery and a new voice, she becomes a pantser rather than a plotter, both in writing and life.
Charles Todd details the meticulous research undertaken to make his wartime mysteries authentic.
Robert Dugoni accidentally discovers at twelve years old that “It is the biggest mystery in writing— how to emotionally touch your reader with just your words.” But it takes many years and a non-renewal of a contract before he understands the way to do that is to write from the heart and not the brain.
Anne Perry says much the same, just not as well…
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Perseus Books
June 23, 2020
In this anthology of 20 writers, the authors write about their own personal mysteries. Some of them are about events in their lives but most of them were about why they write mysteries. It was quite interesting. Jacqueline Winspear, Anne Perry and Rhys Bowen are some of the contributors.
I was particularly moved by Caroline Leavitt's essay on losing her voice and her quest to regain it. I too have lost my voice but know the cause. It was radiation used to cure my throat cancer caused by smoking. The radiation melted my vocal chords and I know have a trachea tube to breathe and no real voice. Her quest had no known reason for the loss and it was her maddening search for the cause that was interesting. I love her interactions with Doctors including the one that wanted her to read her manuscript.
William Kent Krueger had a moving essay on the beautiful Ordinary Grace and dealing with his mother's own mental illness. Several authors described their attachment to writing about World War II. Wouldn't it have been great if Anne Perry had described her own real life murder of a friend's mother? She didn't.
If you are interested in reading some wonderful essays on writing and life, this is a good one.
I was particularly moved by Caroline Leavitt's essay on losing her voice and her quest to regain it. I too have lost my voice but know the cause. It was radiation used to cure my throat cancer caused by smoking. The radiation melted my vocal chords and I know have a trachea tube to breathe and no real voice. Her quest had no known reason for the loss and it was her maddening search for the cause that was interesting. I love her interactions with Doctors including the one that wanted her to read her manuscript.
William Kent Krueger had a moving essay on the beautiful Ordinary Grace and dealing with his mother's own mental illness. Several authors described their attachment to writing about World War II. Wouldn't it have been great if Anne Perry had described her own real life murder of a friend's mother? She didn't.
If you are interested in reading some wonderful essays on writing and life, this is a good one.
April 25, 2020
Review of uncorrected page proofs
In this anthology, twenty authors bring their own real-life mysteries and secrets to the written page. From heartwarming to captivating to heartbreaking, all offer insight into the thoughts of those who pen tales of mystery and intrigue for the enjoyment of readers everywhere.
Each writer offers thoughtful contemplation and commentary, some on the mystery and magic that is writing while others address the intricacies encountered along the road to publishing success. Still others offer heartbreaking accounts of child abuse or war or puzzling health issues. There are stories about a haunted apartment, a ghostly visitation, a stalker, a mystery child in a photograph as well as musings on the mysteries and surprises of motherhood, expectations, and relationships.
As a collective, the authors offer thought-provoking commentary on writing, on mystery, on life. Although a varied collection, readers will find much to ponder in each of these insightful and interesting contemplations.
Authors included:
Tasha Alexander, Cara Black, Rhys Bowen, Lynn Cahoon, Steph Cha, Jeffrey Deaver, Carole Nelson Douglas, Robert Dugoni, Hallie Ephron, Connie May Fowler, Sulari Gentill, Rachel Howzell Hall, Ausma Zehanat Khan, William Kent Krueger, Caroline Leavitt, Kristen Lepionka, Martin Limón, Anne Perry, Charles Todd, and Jacqueline Winspear
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this eBook from Perseus Books, Basic Books / Seal Press and NetGalley
#PrivateInvestigations #NetGalley
In this anthology, twenty authors bring their own real-life mysteries and secrets to the written page. From heartwarming to captivating to heartbreaking, all offer insight into the thoughts of those who pen tales of mystery and intrigue for the enjoyment of readers everywhere.
Each writer offers thoughtful contemplation and commentary, some on the mystery and magic that is writing while others address the intricacies encountered along the road to publishing success. Still others offer heartbreaking accounts of child abuse or war or puzzling health issues. There are stories about a haunted apartment, a ghostly visitation, a stalker, a mystery child in a photograph as well as musings on the mysteries and surprises of motherhood, expectations, and relationships.
As a collective, the authors offer thought-provoking commentary on writing, on mystery, on life. Although a varied collection, readers will find much to ponder in each of these insightful and interesting contemplations.
Authors included:
Tasha Alexander, Cara Black, Rhys Bowen, Lynn Cahoon, Steph Cha, Jeffrey Deaver, Carole Nelson Douglas, Robert Dugoni, Hallie Ephron, Connie May Fowler, Sulari Gentill, Rachel Howzell Hall, Ausma Zehanat Khan, William Kent Krueger, Caroline Leavitt, Kristen Lepionka, Martin Limón, Anne Perry, Charles Todd, and Jacqueline Winspear
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this eBook from Perseus Books, Basic Books / Seal Press and NetGalley
#PrivateInvestigations #NetGalley
June 2, 2020
Some of the finest mystery and thriller writers from around the world contributed essays to this book. In it, they talk about all kinds of mysteries, from those of the human body to the magic of words.
I thoroughly enjoyed insights into writing process, research, and just the thoughts of these talented professionals. Long-time favorites Cara Black and Anne Perry contributed my favorite pieces.
Highly recommended for those who enjoy both "whodunnits" and essays.
I thoroughly enjoyed insights into writing process, research, and just the thoughts of these talented professionals. Long-time favorites Cara Black and Anne Perry contributed my favorite pieces.
Highly recommended for those who enjoy both "whodunnits" and essays.
May 8, 2020
“Private Investigations” is a must-have anthology for every mystery reader, the ultimate book for fans. This collection is uniquely compelling because the stories and essays are from twenty renowned writers who “make up” things for a living. However, these are not “made up” stories. These are personal stories, written from the heart. They are thought provoking, personal glimpses into the lives of favorite writers.
Writers recount growing up, going to libraries, achieving success, and adjusting to trauma. They share the mystery and power of words and the importance of learning words. Through words on a page, they create worlds of place and time that extend beyond the printed page.
“Private Investigations” consists of personal stories, amusing stories, and stories that make readers think. I was given a copy of” Private Investigations” from Perseus Books, Seal Press, Hachette Book Group, and Victoria Zackheim, editor of the collection. Anthologies allow a reader to finish a quick and compelling story all in one sitting, but these stories will keep readers keep reading until the end.
Writers recount growing up, going to libraries, achieving success, and adjusting to trauma. They share the mystery and power of words and the importance of learning words. Through words on a page, they create worlds of place and time that extend beyond the printed page.
“Private Investigations” consists of personal stories, amusing stories, and stories that make readers think. I was given a copy of” Private Investigations” from Perseus Books, Seal Press, Hachette Book Group, and Victoria Zackheim, editor of the collection. Anthologies allow a reader to finish a quick and compelling story all in one sitting, but these stories will keep readers keep reading until the end.
March 31, 2020
Thank you to the publisher, Seal Press, for a review copy (via Edelweiss+) in exchange for an honest review. A version of this review is also on my blog and on the Edelweiss+ site.
I really enjoyed this collection of essays. I've been a fairly avid mystery reader for a big chunk of my life, since high school, and I've made my way through plenty of detective series by a wide range of authors. I do look for intriguing plots, but equally important are the quality of the prose and the complexity of character development.
So I was particularly interested to read what various authors had to say about mysteries and writing. Pleasingly, they each interpreted the assignment a little differently. Some wrote about a mystery in their own life; some wrote about a family mystery; others wrote about the mysteries of the creative process itself. I enjoyed reading the wide range of responses.
As with any essay collection by various authors, I connected with some more than with others. Particular standouts, because of both the subject matter and the writing style, were Connie May Fowler's searing essay about childhood abuse, childlessness, illness, and healing; Steph Cha's electrifying account of stalking and harassment; Sulari Gentill's essay about a family mystery in her birthplace, Sri Lanka; Asuma Zehanat Khan's musings about her Pashtun family's past; the mystery of Caroline Leavitt's disappearing voice; and finally, an amusing and spooky tale by Kristin Lepionska about a haunted apartment. If I had to choose just one as the absolute best, it would be Steph Cha's, but it's got stiff competition from the others.
Even the ones that weren't particular standouts for me were, in general, entertaining and engaging. Overall, I'd recommend this to anyone who likes personal essays and memoirs, whether or not you like to read mystery novels.
I really enjoyed this collection of essays. I've been a fairly avid mystery reader for a big chunk of my life, since high school, and I've made my way through plenty of detective series by a wide range of authors. I do look for intriguing plots, but equally important are the quality of the prose and the complexity of character development.
So I was particularly interested to read what various authors had to say about mysteries and writing. Pleasingly, they each interpreted the assignment a little differently. Some wrote about a mystery in their own life; some wrote about a family mystery; others wrote about the mysteries of the creative process itself. I enjoyed reading the wide range of responses.
As with any essay collection by various authors, I connected with some more than with others. Particular standouts, because of both the subject matter and the writing style, were Connie May Fowler's searing essay about childhood abuse, childlessness, illness, and healing; Steph Cha's electrifying account of stalking and harassment; Sulari Gentill's essay about a family mystery in her birthplace, Sri Lanka; Asuma Zehanat Khan's musings about her Pashtun family's past; the mystery of Caroline Leavitt's disappearing voice; and finally, an amusing and spooky tale by Kristin Lepionska about a haunted apartment. If I had to choose just one as the absolute best, it would be Steph Cha's, but it's got stiff competition from the others.
Even the ones that weren't particular standouts for me were, in general, entertaining and engaging. Overall, I'd recommend this to anyone who likes personal essays and memoirs, whether or not you like to read mystery novels.
March 12, 2020
Mystery writers writing about their own personal mysteries, how meta can you get? Victoria Zackhelm set out to find out just that by recruiting twenty authors (some well-known, some not so well-known) to write about mysteries in their own lives, i.e. what intrigues, baffles, dismays, and intrigues them. Each author brings their own take on what makes a mystery, so be prepared to ricochet about this concept!
Sulari Gentill writes about her discovery of an unknown relative. Hallie Ephron dives into ghosts and mediums. Jeffrey Deaver brings the reader along on his quest to be a writer. For Cara Black, the mystery is Paris. Connie May Fowler riffs on motherhood. Martin Limon contemplates the U. S. Army and Korea. William Kent Krueger whispers about mothers and expectations. Asuma Zehanat Khan reminisces about origins. Kristen Lepionka is startled with a haunted apartment in Columbus (OH). Lynn Cahoon explores the mysteries of love and relationships. Rhys Bowen conflates World War II and her writings. Rachel Howzell Hall wanders through the surprises her body has for her. Steph Cha encounters stalkers! Jacqueline Winspear remembers war and her family. Tasha Alexander philosophizes on what attracts readers to mysteries. Carole Nelson Douglas winds cat smuggling and Nancy Drew into a career. Caroline Leavitt has the case of the missing voice. Charles Todd immerses himself in the milieu of the Great War. Robert Dugoni muses on how to reach the reader's heart. Anne Perry closes the book with why she wishes to be a writer.
So what does the reader get out of these varied essays? A small sense of what makes these particular writers put pen to paper and write!
Thanks Netgalley and Goodreads for the chance to read this title!
Sulari Gentill writes about her discovery of an unknown relative. Hallie Ephron dives into ghosts and mediums. Jeffrey Deaver brings the reader along on his quest to be a writer. For Cara Black, the mystery is Paris. Connie May Fowler riffs on motherhood. Martin Limon contemplates the U. S. Army and Korea. William Kent Krueger whispers about mothers and expectations. Asuma Zehanat Khan reminisces about origins. Kristen Lepionka is startled with a haunted apartment in Columbus (OH). Lynn Cahoon explores the mysteries of love and relationships. Rhys Bowen conflates World War II and her writings. Rachel Howzell Hall wanders through the surprises her body has for her. Steph Cha encounters stalkers! Jacqueline Winspear remembers war and her family. Tasha Alexander philosophizes on what attracts readers to mysteries. Carole Nelson Douglas winds cat smuggling and Nancy Drew into a career. Caroline Leavitt has the case of the missing voice. Charles Todd immerses himself in the milieu of the Great War. Robert Dugoni muses on how to reach the reader's heart. Anne Perry closes the book with why she wishes to be a writer.
So what does the reader get out of these varied essays? A small sense of what makes these particular writers put pen to paper and write!
Thanks Netgalley and Goodreads for the chance to read this title!
August 5, 2020
Very often high school students will get a research assignment, that makes a librarian's heart grow cold. They are given the name of an author, and must write a biography of this person. Usually
the teacher will receive a 500 word cut and paste job from Something About the Author. Private Investigations provides a much better introduction into the creative voice of mystery writers.
Zackheim, a noted writing instructor, (offers a class at the UCLA Extension Writers' Program) is also an editor of seven previous anthologies. In her introduction to this anthology, she relates that like life in general, all view the word 'mystery' in different ways. For the twenty best selling authors in this volume, that is abundantly clear. The essays, all which disclose events that have shaped their lives, offer a rainbow of stories that solicit feelings of wonder, puzzlement, joy, grief, and triumph. The reader discovers the personalities behind their published words are just as fascinating. Zackheim has chosen well, there is not a dull voice in the bunch.
Their voices reflect the sub genres of the mystery form, from ghost stories, and hidden relatives to medical mysteries, to deeply personal stories revealing childhood pain. These essays are not dry or pedantic. The authors and the editor have given us a book filled with trust. The authors have taken off their professional mask, and shown us, the fan, or the new reader a slice of themselves.
Highly recommended
the teacher will receive a 500 word cut and paste job from Something About the Author. Private Investigations provides a much better introduction into the creative voice of mystery writers.
Zackheim, a noted writing instructor, (offers a class at the UCLA Extension Writers' Program) is also an editor of seven previous anthologies. In her introduction to this anthology, she relates that like life in general, all view the word 'mystery' in different ways. For the twenty best selling authors in this volume, that is abundantly clear. The essays, all which disclose events that have shaped their lives, offer a rainbow of stories that solicit feelings of wonder, puzzlement, joy, grief, and triumph. The reader discovers the personalities behind their published words are just as fascinating. Zackheim has chosen well, there is not a dull voice in the bunch.
Their voices reflect the sub genres of the mystery form, from ghost stories, and hidden relatives to medical mysteries, to deeply personal stories revealing childhood pain. These essays are not dry or pedantic. The authors and the editor have given us a book filled with trust. The authors have taken off their professional mask, and shown us, the fan, or the new reader a slice of themselves.
Highly recommended
May 9, 2020
I really enjoyed Private Investigations, by contributor Victoria Zackheim. This anthology of favorite mystery writers expounding on the various mysteries in their lives, leaves the reader with an increased knowledge on how broad the term and idea mystery is and how it means different things to different people.
The stories that I enjoyed the most are the ones that talked about how the mysteries in the authors lives directly affected their writing and their careers. Jeffrey Deaver in particular showcased this very well. By far my favorite anecdote was by William Krueger. He drew a direct line between the mystery of his mother and his troubled relationship with her to the influence it had on one of his most acclaimed novels, Ordinary Grace.
Each story was completely original and memorable in different ways. Some were humorous and others heartbreaking. Other standouts for me were- Hallie Ephron’s Ghosted, Sulari Gentill’s An Extra Child, Kristen Lepionka’s A Trick of the Light and Lynn Cahoon’s The Mystery of Deception.
Each writer’s voice is so clear and uniquely their own that each excerpt reads like a mini novel. The best ones let us see into the writers lives and how their own mysteries shape the books we all so dearly love.
The stories that I enjoyed the most are the ones that talked about how the mysteries in the authors lives directly affected their writing and their careers. Jeffrey Deaver in particular showcased this very well. By far my favorite anecdote was by William Krueger. He drew a direct line between the mystery of his mother and his troubled relationship with her to the influence it had on one of his most acclaimed novels, Ordinary Grace.
Each story was completely original and memorable in different ways. Some were humorous and others heartbreaking. Other standouts for me were- Hallie Ephron’s Ghosted, Sulari Gentill’s An Extra Child, Kristen Lepionka’s A Trick of the Light and Lynn Cahoon’s The Mystery of Deception.
Each writer’s voice is so clear and uniquely their own that each excerpt reads like a mini novel. The best ones let us see into the writers lives and how their own mysteries shape the books we all so dearly love.
March 23, 2020
I have been reading and enjoying mysteries since I was a young child with my first Nancy Drew books. I still look to mysteries as favorite reads. It's not always the "whodunnit" but often the characters, settings and joys of following a series that draw me in.
Whenever I read a mystery, I take a look at the page about the author. Sometimes I wish I knew more though about what makes a favorite writer tick. If you feel that way too, this is a fun book to dip into in any order that you like.
This title from the Mystery Writers of America posed a question to authors; they were asked to write about a mystery in their own life, however they defined that. As a result here are writings by Sulari Gentill, Ausma Zahanat Khan, Rhys Bowen, Jacqueline Winspear, Tasha Alexander, and Anne Perry, just to name my own favorites. (Reviews for these authors are on my blog).
What a treat! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.
#PrivateInvestigations #NetGalley
Whenever I read a mystery, I take a look at the page about the author. Sometimes I wish I knew more though about what makes a favorite writer tick. If you feel that way too, this is a fun book to dip into in any order that you like.
This title from the Mystery Writers of America posed a question to authors; they were asked to write about a mystery in their own life, however they defined that. As a result here are writings by Sulari Gentill, Ausma Zahanat Khan, Rhys Bowen, Jacqueline Winspear, Tasha Alexander, and Anne Perry, just to name my own favorites. (Reviews for these authors are on my blog).
What a treat! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.
#PrivateInvestigations #NetGalley
March 7, 2020
I received an ARC of this book through Goodreads Giveaways.
Like some of the other reviewers, I was initially misled by the description and thought that this would be a book of true crimes stories. It is not.
As a writer, I also thought it might be a good resource for teaching me how to write mystery novels. I was not disappointed there. About 1/3-1/2 of the essays had a lot of good advice for writers.
Aside from addressing the "mystery" of writing, some essays really did talk about crime. Other writers, though, seemed too think that by adding the word "mystery" to essays about the mundane, they could fool the reader into thinking there was actually an interesting mystery to find in their story.
Not every essay was written in an engaging way. It was difficult to get through some. Some essays were only worth 2 or 3 stars, while others were 4 or 5. I would recommend this books to writers for the advice it gives, but I would only recommend some of the essays for entertainment.
Like some of the other reviewers, I was initially misled by the description and thought that this would be a book of true crimes stories. It is not.
As a writer, I also thought it might be a good resource for teaching me how to write mystery novels. I was not disappointed there. About 1/3-1/2 of the essays had a lot of good advice for writers.
Aside from addressing the "mystery" of writing, some essays really did talk about crime. Other writers, though, seemed too think that by adding the word "mystery" to essays about the mundane, they could fool the reader into thinking there was actually an interesting mystery to find in their story.
Not every essay was written in an engaging way. It was difficult to get through some. Some essays were only worth 2 or 3 stars, while others were 4 or 5. I would recommend this books to writers for the advice it gives, but I would only recommend some of the essays for entertainment.
March 22, 2020
I had to settle on 3 stars for this one. Some of the stories were 5-star, and some were maybe 1-2. Some of the authors really took on a real-life mystery that they've faced, and those stories were engaging and interesting. Connie May Fowler's story had me from the first line, and hit me hard in the gut, leaving me crying over my lunch. Who is that child in the photograph? Is the bathroom really haunted? How to leave an abusive relationship? All of these mysteries were explored and the authors drew me into their quest for truth. But other stories were dry and monotonous. I must confess that there was one or two I didn't even finish. It felt like some of the authors didn't quite get the point of the assignment, writing about their own writing, instead of an actual mystery in their life. They might be good mystery writers, but they struggled to be engaging while writing about writing.
I won a free copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
I won a free copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
March 18, 2020
Mystery writers writing about mysteries in their lives. Who wouldn't like to read a book like this. I found it interesting, funny, eerie and sometimes sad. They talk about never aspects in their lives and the reason they write this genre. Of course, why else except for the mystery. Finding out what happened, who did it, will they be caught all are part of their reasons for writing.
I especially like the fact that I found some new others to a read. Plus, some has books on Kindle Unlimited, so I can read them for free. Can't wait to read these new authors I found and their mysteries.
I won this from Goodreads. Thanks to Victoria Zackheim and Seal Press for the ARC. It comes out April 21, 2020.
I especially like the fact that I found some new others to a read. Plus, some has books on Kindle Unlimited, so I can read them for free. Can't wait to read these new authors I found and their mysteries.
I won this from Goodreads. Thanks to Victoria Zackheim and Seal Press for the ARC. It comes out April 21, 2020.
May 31, 2020
Private Investigations is a collection of essays/stories from various authors who share their own stories and experiences with mystery.
The investigations and the mysteries varied from one author to the other, what mystery meant to each of them and how they dealt with it.
Some stories were interesting, others not that much.
My favourites were by authors i already liked. I enjoyed very much reading Jeffery Deaver "Plot twists", Sulari Gentill "Extra Child" and Robert Dugoni "Nuns, Magic and Steven King". Another story that particularly touched me was by an author i was not familiar with, Rachel Howzell Hall "I don't know this word".
Overall it was an enjoyable boom to read.
Thank you NetGalley, the Publisher and Author for this free copy in exchange of an honest review.
The investigations and the mysteries varied from one author to the other, what mystery meant to each of them and how they dealt with it.
Some stories were interesting, others not that much.
My favourites were by authors i already liked. I enjoyed very much reading Jeffery Deaver "Plot twists", Sulari Gentill "Extra Child" and Robert Dugoni "Nuns, Magic and Steven King". Another story that particularly touched me was by an author i was not familiar with, Rachel Howzell Hall "I don't know this word".
Overall it was an enjoyable boom to read.
Thank you NetGalley, the Publisher and Author for this free copy in exchange of an honest review.
November 4, 2023
"Private Investigations: Mystery Writers on the Secrets, Riddles, and Wonders in Their Lives" by Victoria Zackheim is a captivating anthology that offers a unique glimpse into the lives and minds of mystery writers. Through personal essays, these authors share intriguing stories, mysteries, and moments of wonder from their own lives. The collection provides a delightful blend of introspection and storytelling, offering readers a deeper understanding of the creative minds behind some of their favorite mystery novels. Whether you're a fan of the genre or simply interested in the experiences that inspire writers, this book is a compelling and enjoyable read.
I was provided an advanced copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was provided an advanced copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 27, 2021
I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway. In general, entertaining and engaging, this anthology demonstrates both that truth can be stranger than fiction and that truth can also morph into effective fiction. Some of the essays in it explain in depth how real-life occurrences directly influenced the storylines of the contributors’ published novels; other essays mention such a connection elliptically or in passing. Particular standouts, because of both the subject matter and the writing style, were Sulari Gentill’s essay about a family mystery in her birthplace, Sri Lanka, and an amusing and spooky tale by Kristin Lepionska about a haunted apartment.
February 20, 2020
I wish I could give it 3.5 stars. I got this as an ARC on a goodreads giveaway. And generally I liked it. I think i was hoping that it was the authors talking about research on true cases to write their fictional stories. It wasnt. They were each telling a story of their own, some spooky, some mundane. Yes, some of the stories I thoroughly enjoyed, and wished they would keep going, and those authors I added to my tbr pile, and other stories I couldnt finish and just moved on to the next. I wouldn't read it again or really recommend it to a friend though. So 3 stars.
August 9, 2024
This book is a rather spotty collection of essays. Some are very good…Sulari Gentill never disappoints…some are pretty interesting, and some are dull or too awful to read. I read a couple I wish I hadn’t and skipped over a few I knew I shouldn’t go near. A couple I thought rather missed the point of what the book was about, i.e. real mysteries that the writers had experienced and that had informed their writing.
I wanted to like this more, but couldn’t. Three stars as an average, which isn’t fair to the really good ones or to the really bad ones.
I wanted to like this more, but couldn’t. Three stars as an average, which isn’t fair to the really good ones or to the really bad ones.
April 3, 2020
What a wonderful theme for a book of anthologies!!! I often wonder how the author came up with an idea for a story, because let's face it...some of the stories had to come from an alternate reality or a Ripley's believe or not article in the paper! I always kept a book of anthologies with me to read when doing those errand where you have to wait. These are some of my favorite authors and I get to see them as they flex their writing skills into another's comfort zone.
May 28, 2020
Very interesting compilations of short stories by experienced writers on the idea of mystery- and what it means to them. Reading by good authors, even if I am not totally captivated by the subject matter is almost always a pleasure. Seeing how characters and story elements are created is illuminating.
What constitutes a mystery by different people is also fun to see.
Nice little bunch of stories, nice read.
What constitutes a mystery by different people is also fun to see.
Nice little bunch of stories, nice read.
August 17, 2020
We all have favorite authors, right? Do you ever wonder what has happened in the real lives of these authors that caused them to write what they do? And in the style they do? And if any of the writers' backstory ever shows up in their work in one form or another? Well, for lovers of mysteries, some of these questions about style and backstory are answered in Private Investigations, edited by Victoria Sackheim. Very interesting read.
February 4, 2021
Set a couple dozen mystery writers free with a writing prompt and you're bound to end up with something intriguing, but I never thought so many of the essays/memoirs in this book would be SO GOOD. There's real talent here, and if you come across one that doesn't resonate, skip a couple pages and find another. I've found one of two writers I don't know that I now want to explore because of their contributions here.
Recommended for writers, bibliophiles, and lovers of the mystery genre.
Recommended for writers, bibliophiles, and lovers of the mystery genre.
August 15, 2021
This was not what I was expecting. Maybe I didn't read the cover blurb closely enough. I just saw the names of some favorite authors and how they 'cope with the perplexing world and what keeps them up at night.' What I got were those same authors, and more, telling some of their most personal stories and how those stories made them into the writers they have become. Well done, intriguing and worth a read (or two).
September 2, 2021
I found this book when I was looking to see if a new favorite writer had published anything in 2021. The subtitle gave the writers a fair amount of latitude--the five essays I read by writers I knew ranged from working out feelings about growing up (Krueger), to a ghost story (Lepionka), to three different perspectives on why and how one writes about WWI and WW2 (Bowen, Winspear, and Todd). All interesting and perceptive and, for me, rounded out my sense of the authors I like.
November 30, 2025
Interesting concept that didn't follow through on execution for me which is especially strange considering the caliber of stories these authors usually create. My favorite was "Lydia and Jack" by Connie May Fowler.
I loved the lines, "He remains a mystery. But he's no longer a secret", written by Sulari Gentill about an uncle nobody in the family spoke of.
Find all my reviews at: https://readingatrandom.blogspot.com
I loved the lines, "He remains a mystery. But he's no longer a secret", written by Sulari Gentill about an uncle nobody in the family spoke of.
Find all my reviews at: https://readingatrandom.blogspot.com
February 26, 2020
I love mysteries, thrillers and crime novels, fiction and non fiction so, I was excited to receive this title for review from NetGalley and Perseus Books.
I found this book to be an interesting look "behind the curtain" into how authors use their experiences and how they write the novels they do.
I think one of the reasons for my enjoyment is I naturally related to some of my favorite authors who were included in this collection of essays.
If you would like to see how and why some authors do what they do, try this collection. You might even find a new author to check out.
I found this book to be an interesting look "behind the curtain" into how authors use their experiences and how they write the novels they do.
I think one of the reasons for my enjoyment is I naturally related to some of my favorite authors who were included in this collection of essays.
If you would like to see how and why some authors do what they do, try this collection. You might even find a new author to check out.
March 19, 2020
Collection of essays by mystery/ crime writers provides a look into their inner lives and the mysteries that they've encountered in them. Not only provides a look into what draws some of them into writing mysteries but introduces readers to some authors they might have missed. This book was received as a Goodreads giveaway.
June 6, 2020
An interesting variety of essays written by mystery writers. They explore the variety of issues in their lives: illness, parentage, ghosts, people, and even crime. These writers are superb so their seesaws are enthralling, poetic, and compelling. Some issues like cancer, I found to difficult to finish.
April 2, 2020
I love mysteries and thrillers.This is a great collection of essays by mystery authors.Its a mixed bag,definitely not predictable.The essays are short so it keeps your interest.
Thankyou Netgalley for this arc
Thankyou Netgalley for this arc
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