Asking the Authors
Dear Authors,
What is the first mystery you ever read?
6 Responses to “Asking the Authors”
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The first mystery I ever read was a Hardy Boys book. I read Nancy Drew, Ken Holt and all the young adult series mystery books. Then I graduated to Alfred Hitchcock magazines. I submitted my first mystery to Alfred when I was 12. It was not published so I waited another
40 some years.
Donby don on March 25th, 2006 at 7:36 am
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I started out on the Encyclopedia Brown series, where you could try to figure it out yourself. Loved ‘em. I also remember reading some Trixie Belden (I read her instead of Nancy Drew — not sure why).
The first person that really got me passionate about mysteries was Dorothy L. Sayers. I was on a college choir trip across the U.S. and picked up one of her books by chance. I fell in love with Peter Wimsey. From then on, during the trip, whenever we stopped somewhere I picked up another in the series. The rest, as they say, is history…
by Judy on March 25th, 2006 at 8:29 am
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I’ve always been a reader, but cannot remember for the life of me if I read mysteries at a young, young age. I DO remember watching the Hardy Boys on TV every Sunday night. Loved that Shaun Cassidy. But I suppose that doesn’t count.
The first mystery I do remember was The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle. The book was a 10th grade English assignment, and I finished it in one night even though the class had six weeks to read it. I just couldn’t put it down. It helped that it was a Saturday night and I was home. Alone. With nothing to do. Reading was much better than being depressed at not having a date.
And then one day the girl who sat behind me in Spanish class excitedly whispered, “I can’t believe he killed her!” The book she was secretly reading behind the thick Spanish text book? One of Mary Higgins Clark’s. I was a goner from there on out.
~heather
by Heather on March 25th, 2006 at 10:48 am
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I loved reading your answers! I started on Nancy Drew, then read every Agatha Christie in order. I discovered Charlotte Macleaod in my college library. After that, it’s been a great variety. I, too, love those Peter Wimsey books.
My all time favorite books are the Victorian ones by Anne Perry. They’re the only books I buy immediately in hard cover, and don’t try to read as quickly as possible.
And Heather, Sean Cassidy has to count somewhere…though I’m ashamed to admit I loved those Murder, She Wrote shows almost as much!
by Shelley Galloway on March 25th, 2006 at 9:50 pm
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Well, my first encounter with mystery was Encyclopedia Brown. Hmmm, for some reason, the smart nerdy kid thing resonated with me. Go figure. I “graduated” to Agatha Christie by 6th grade, and started collecting her works by the time I was 14. I had some interesting conversations with teachers, regarding those risque covers (1940s/1950s pulp stories) on my reading material.
by Jeff on March 26th, 2006 at 6:29 pm
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The first mystery I read was Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh. I read it 13 times in a row in junior high school! I really related to Harriet and her desire to peek into other people’s lives and write witty observations about them.
I’m both humbled and honored that I recently wrote an essay about that book, and its impact on my life as a writer, for MYSTERY MUSES, 100 CLASSICS THAT INSPIRE TODAY’S MYSTERY WRITERS.
The essay collection is being published by Crum Creek Press/Drood Review Books, Jim Huang publisher, later this year.
All best,
Sharon
by Sharon Short on March 27th, 2006 at 9:35 am
