Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com

Average Customer Rating:

Rises to the level of the authors interviewed

Customer Rating:

If you are looking for insights on writing or even on the impact of the giants on modern mystery writers, don't buy this book. Unless you want to know how Sara gardens or how brilliant Jonathan's children are, or how forgetful Tony is, there's not much to be had here. Maybe my expectations were wrong. I've been re-reading the masters of American noir: Hammett and Chandler to name two. I expected the authors to be more aware of that tradition, and for Kaminsky to spend more time exploring the authors' place in the mystery genre. My mistake.

Essential reading for all budding writers

Customer Rating:

I picked up 'Behind the Mystery' after listening to Stuart Kaminsky at the Sarasota Creative Writers' Circle. A circle I can highly recommend. I'm not a great mystery fan, especially of the cops and murder kind, but NYPD Blue got me hooked. What was more important then and in "Behind the Mystery' was listening and talking to a real life very successful author. Kaminsky comes across as a humane person; a clear, relaxed and knowledgeable speaker with a touch of mystery about himself. In "Behind the Mystery", Kaminsky's style is not dissimilar to his speaking style or the dialogue of a novel. The book is very readable. The questions he asks appear to be standard to all the authors he interviews, but his personal friendship with writer draws out the questions most relevant to them. Kaminsky has taught creative writing. "Behind the Mystery" carries on his teaching. Through interviews it introduces the reader to 17 masters of the art. Kaminsky asks the questions important to every budding writer. Whatever the differing life circumstances or styles, the same message comes across. It was a struggle to get started; whether you succeed or not, its not the end of the world; people who want to write will write. Writing is a job, a job that a writer does every day of the week. Writers' block does not exist, its just an excuse. Writing is a fascinating and very enjoyable job, with dozens of friends and acquaintances acting out a movie in your head. For a Brit like myself, "Behind the Mystery" is especially useful in getting to know many of the major US mystery writers. Some jump off the page, others were unknown to me. Probably all are well known to US readers. 'Behind the Mystery' makes that assumption, which can be very frustrating. It leaves the reader wondering just who the writer is and what they are known for. However Kaminsky leaves the reader with sufficient liking for each writer, to go find out. That is what research is about and what the INTERNET is for. Studying the masters is essential to all arts. Kaminsky portrays them as humans, amongst whom one can stand, if one is prepared to work at it.

Charming photos, mystery author interviews.

Customer Rating:

Kaminsky is an award-winning mystery writer himself, and is in the perfect position to introduce his fellow mystery writer friends to audiences in BEHIND THE MYSTERY: TOP MYSTERY WRITERS INTERVIEWED. Working with professional photographer Laurie Roberts, who captures images of these writers in their home settings, Kaminsky provides insights into the personal lives and inspirations of Sue Grafton, Donald Westlake, Faye Kellerman, Lisa Scottoline and other modern notable authors who have made major impacts on the genre. Mystery fans will relish the charming black and white shots and Kaminsky's probe into family, friends and perspectives on mystery writing.

amateur hour	Customer Rating:
Considering its potential, this book is almost a total dud. Kaminsky would be right at home in one of those magazines where they grill stars on their favorite color. And while some of the photos are intriguing, many of them are out of focus or poorly-framed.

Enter the mystery on a personal level

Customer Rating:

This text presented various facets of these mystery writer's lives and included interesting anecdotes and witty words of wisdom that worked wonders in pulling each writer back into the realm of the norm. The accompanying photographs presented these writers in their most vulnerable environment in a realistic and touching manner and ultimately solidified them as typical people like you and I. The writing or the photographs could stand alone to tell this tale; putting them together was a win-win combination. I recommend picking up a copy.