The Lineup: The World's Greatest Crime Writers Tell the Inside Story of Their Greatest Detectives

4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars | 30 ratings

Price: 15.42

Last update: 12-18-2024


About this item

A great recurring character in a series you love becomes an old friend. You learn about their strange quirks and their haunted pasts and root for them every time they face danger. But where do some of the most fascinating sleuths in the mystery and thriller world really come from? What was the real-life location that inspired Michael Connelly to make Harry Bosch a Vietnam vet tunnel rat? Why is Lee Child's Jack Reacher a drifter? How did a brief encounter in Botswana inspire Alexander McCall Smith to create Precious Ramotswe?

In The Lineup, some of the top mystery writers in the world tell about the genesis of their most beloved characters - or, in some cases, let their creations do the talking.


Top reviews from the United States

  • Barbara81
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fun (and different) read for mystery readers
    Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2015
    Since this book is a collection of authors discussing their methods and how their characters came to be developed, it's hard to check the above boxes. It's a very interesting book. And I enjoyed the entries tremendously. Recommended for all mystery readers who care about character development and authors' methods.
  • Michael A. Black
    3.0 out of 5 stars A Bit of a Letdown
    Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2024
    Admittedly, I bought a used version of this book, which came out several years ago. There were a few good essays in it, but some of them weren't very good at all. Robert B. Parker was creative with his, making it a short story of Spenser and Susan getting interviewed. His was one of the few entertaining ones. I was suspicious when I received it because it has a pair of phony handcuffs on the cover. The least they could have done would have been to use a real pair. I was disappointed because Otto's stuff is usually first rate.
  • Roger Bergman
    5.0 out of 5 stars Learn about the author
    Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2013
    Reading Line Up gives me an insight into how the main character was created. They create heros, series of main characters who come from within the author. This book lets me see how that creation comes about. If you are interested in writing, this should be a primer and must read.
  • Jim Lester
    4.0 out of 5 stars The stories behind the stories
    Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2013
    This is an entertaining and informative read for fans of modern mystery fiction. Its a collection of articles by some of the top crime writer's in the field today. Each writer introduces his fictional detective either in a straight forward narrative or a piece of fiction. There's lots of biographical material and information on how each writer came to create his fictional sleuth. Plus, for writers, there are lots of good tips on creating a series character.

    I enjoyed the articles by familiar writers like Robert B. Parker and Jeffery Deaver, but more importantly, the book got me interested in trying the work of authors I wasn't familiar with like John Connally and Ian Rankin. Overall, this is simply a fun book for fans of mystery and crime fiction and I highly recommend it.
  • Jason
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great look at the origins of top thriller characters!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2018
    Love this book. Insightful essays for readers of these great writers and aspiring writers alike! Great service and book was just as described. Very courteous and professional.
  • Bill W Smith
    5.0 out of 5 stars good
    Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2014
    Fast delivery! good book
  • electronic_cat
    3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed
    Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2010
    We saw many of our favorite authors were in this book, along with many more we were not familar with. So we thought we would find some new authors. Unfortunately, the authors we were not familar with were not that appealing. Some of the writeups were very good, however, and we enjoyed them.
  • Bookslave
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2017
    Good price. Good service.

    • Best Sellers in

     
     

    CDL Study Guide 2025-2026: Complete Review for the Commercial Driver’s License Exam with Practice Tests, In-Depth Answer Expl

    0 0 out of 5 stars 0
    21.83
     
     

    ATI TEAS Study Guide! Best Test Prep Book to Help You Pass the Exam for Nursing School!: Practice Questions & Review for the

    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 6
    17.46
     
     

    How Highly Effective People Speak: How to Perform in Speaking in Order to Influence Everyone in Any Situation

    4 4 out of 5 stars 60
    8.18
     
     

    Smart but Scattered: The Revolutionary 'Executive Skills' Approach to Helping Kids Reach Their Potential

    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 7
    15.42
     
     

    Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish: A Creative and Proven Approach

    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 4705
    19.69
     
     

    Pedagogy of the Oppressed: 50th Anniversary Edition

    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 1407
    12.24
     
     

    Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge: FAA-H-8083-25B: Federal Aviation Administration

    4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 7
    33.25
     
     

    How to Stop Being Negative, Angry, and Mean: Master Your Mind and Take Control of Your Life

    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 163
    13.08