This 2-vol. set on mystery, detective, and espionage fiction cover in 84 articles some of the most influential and popular writers of the genre. Each original, signed article is the ideal bio-critical introduction to its subject. Furnishing both a look at the author's background and a genuine critical analysis of the major novels and stories, the articles range from 7 to 20 pages. These engaging essays provide substantial treatments of major mystery authors and of such subgenres as the police procedural, the spy novel, and the whodunit.