The assigned reading list for the seminar, Detective Fiction, was divided into categories. The categorizing of the books can be helpful when reading is being assigned to a particular topic or course of study. The category for each book listed in the adult bibliography is given in parenthesis at the end of the annotation. For the young child, the reading tends to be more of an interrogative or puzzle type story. A puzzle story is presented as a cause and effect story and is particularly helpful when the objective is to have children focus on facts and solve a mystery.
Chandler, Raymond. The Big Sleep, Vintage Books, New York, N.Y., 1939.
Meet Philip Marlow, a thirty-eight-year-old private detective who moves through the seamy side of Los Angeles in the 1930's. His case involves a paralyzed California millionaire, two psychotic daughters, blackmail, and murder. (American Private Eye Tradition)
Follett, Ken. Eye of the Needle, Arbor House, New York, N.Y., 1978.
It's 1944 and the time is quickly approaching D-Day. The Allies are putting forth a valiant effort to keep the plan out of the hand of the Germans. "Die Nadel," also known as "The Needle," has been planted in London years before. He has discovered the secret that will destroy the Allies and defeat the D-Day landing-if he can only escape to Germany with it. (Spy Story)
James, P.D.. An Unsuitable Job for a Woman, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, N.Y., 1972.
Cordelia Gray finds herself the sole proprietress of a private detective agency after the suicide of her partner Bernie Pryde.
____
He first independent assignment is to investigate the death of Mark Hallenger, whose father is the brilliant and forceful leader of a team of scientists. Before Cordelia completes the investigation there are two more deaths, a brush with a police chief and a non-stop sequence of suspense, excitement, and surprise. (Puzzle Element)
McClure, James. The Steam Pig, Harper & Row, Publishers, New York, N.Y., 1971.
A suspense story set against a South African background, involves the murder of a young girl who superficially appeared to be an ideal tenant, yet with the odd characteristic of the artistic. Steam pig extracts the narrative from the apartheid government of South Africa. (Moral Dilemma)
____
Mosley, Walter. Devil in a Blue Dress, Pocket Books, New York, N.Y., 1990.
It's 1948 in the town of Los Angeles and Easy Rawlins, a black war veteran has just been fired from his job. Wondering how he'll meet his mortgage, Easy is approached by a white man in a linen suit, who offers good money if only Easy will locate a blond woman by the name of Daphne Monet, who frequents black jazz clubs…(Ethnic Detective)
Parker, Robert B.. Looking for Rachel Wallace, Delacorte Press/Seymour Lawrence, New York, N.Y, 1980.
Private detective, Spenser, has the ominous job of protecting Rachel Wallace, a lesbian feminist. She's tough, proud and doesn't particularly appreciate his style. She's kidnapped after an argument that leaves Spenser without a job and Wallace without Spenser's protection. Spenser, sets out to find the feminist writer and meets with a steady stream of interesting characters. (American Private Eye Tradition)
Sayers, Dorothy L.. The Nine Tailors, Harcout Brace Jovanovich, New York, N.Y..
From the strange, flat fen-country of East Anglia, which has accustomed itself to the noise of the internal combustion engine and the wails of the jazz band, the people are found to be highly sensitive to the blasphemous ringing of the church bell which is made to the glory of God. Their complaints evoke an investigation which results in the discovery of an unknown man's death. (Moral Dilemma)
Trevor, Elleston.. The Tango Briefing, Doubleday & Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., 1973.
Quiller, who is London's top-secret Bureau agent, is back in a new adventure which will test his professional cool to the limit. He is sent to search for the wreckage of a small cargo plane which carried some letters called "Tango Victor" when it crashed in a sandstorm. Quiller assumes the cargo is deadly and is sent on non-stop action which results in a masterful novel of international espionage at its deadliest. (Straight narrative)