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Howdunit: A Masterclass in Crime Writing by Members of the Detection Club Paperback – September 20, 2022

by Martin Edwards (Editor)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 101 ratings
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Winner of the H.R.F. Keating Award for best biographical/critical book related to crime fiction, and nominated for the Edgar Allen Poe and Macavity Awards for Best Critical/Biographical book.

Ninety crime writers from the world’s oldest and most famous crime writing network give tips and insights into successful crime and thriller fiction.

Howdunit offers a fresh perspective on the craft of crime writing from leading exponents of the genre, past and present. The book offers invaluable advice to people interested in writing crime fiction, but it also provides a fascinating picture of the way that the best crime writers have honed their skills over the years. Its unique construction and content mean that it will appeal not only to would-be writers but also to a very wide readership of crime fans.

The principal contributors are current members of the legendary Detection Club, including Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Peter James, Peter Robinson, Ann Cleeves, Andrew Taylor, Elly Griffiths, Sophie Hannah, Stella Duffy, Alexander McCall Smith, John Le Carré and many more.

Interwoven with their contributions are shorter pieces by past Detection Club members ranging from G.K. Chesterton, Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie and John Dickson Carr to Desmond Bagley and H.R.F. Keating.

The book is dedicated to Len Deighton, who is celebrating 50 years as a Detection Club member and has also penned an essay for the book.

The contributions are linked by short sections written by Martin Edwards, the current President of the Club and author of the award-winning The Golden Age of Murder.

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    544 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Collins Crime Club
  4. Publication date
    September 20, 2022
  5. Dimensions
    5.31 x 1.57 x 8.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0008380163
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0008380168
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

'Aspirant crime writers will relish the tips in Howdunit'―Barry Forshaw, Financial Times

‘A must-read for fans of crime writing and would-be authors alike.’―Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine

‘There can be few people in the country who know more about crime fiction than Martin Edwards.’―On Magazine

About the Author

Martin Edwards is an award-winning crime novelist whose Lake District Mysteries have been optioned by ITV. Elected to the Detection Club in 2008, he became the first Archivist of the Club, and is also Archivist of the Crime Writers’ Association. Renowned as the leading expert on the history of Golden Age detective fiction, he won the Crimefest Mastermind Quiz three times, and possesses one of Britain’s finest collections of Golden Age novels.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Collins Crime Club (September 20, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 544 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0008380163
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0008380168
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.31 x 1.57 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 101 ratings

About the author

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Martin Edwards

Martin Edwards

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Martin Edwards has received the CWA Diamond Dagger, the highest honour in British crime writing, given for the sustained excellence of his contribution to the genre. His recent novels include Mortmain Hall and Gallows Court, which was nominated for two awards including the CWA Historical Dagger. British librarians awarded him the CWA Dagger in the Library in 2018 in recognition of his body of work. His eight and latest Lake District Mystery is The Crooked Shore and earlier books in the series include The Coffin Trail, short-listed for the Theakston's prize for best British crime novel. Seven books in his first series, featuring Liverpool lawyer Harry Devlin, starting with the CWA John Creasey Dagger-nominated All the Lonely People, have been reissued by Acorn in new editions with introductions by leading writers including Ann Cleeves and Val McDermid.

Martin is a well-known crime fiction critic, and series consultant to the British Library's Crime Classics. His ground-breaking study of the genre between the wars, The Golden Age of Murder won the Edgar, Agatha, H.R.F. Keating and Macavity awards. The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books won the Macavity and was nominated for four other awards, while Howdunit, a masterclass in crime writing by members of the Detection Club, won the H.R.F. Keating prize and was nominated for five other awards. His long-awaited history of the genre, The Life of Crime, will be published in May 2022.

In addition Martin has written a stand-alone novel of psychological suspense, Take My Breath Away, and a much acclaimed novel featuring Dr Crippen, Dancing for the Hangman. He also completed Bill Knox's last book, The Lazarus Widow. He has published many short stories, including the ebooks The New Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes and Acknowledgments and other stories. 'The Bookbinder's Apprentice' won the CWA Short Story Dagger, for which he has been nominated for three other stories.

He has edited over 40 anthologies and published diverse non-fiction books, including a study of homicide investigation, Urge to Kill. An expert on crime fiction history, he is archivist of both the Crime Writers' Association and the Detection Club. He was elected eighth President of the Detection Club in 2015, spent two years as Chair of the CWA, and posts regularly to his blog, 'Do You Write Under Your Own Name?'

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
101 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Lawrence Obisakin
5.0 out of 5 stars A great Practical, pragmatic and very Educative handbook
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2021
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A great Practical, pragmatic and very Educative handbook Practical, pragmatic and very Educative handbook
I am really enjoying this book which I fortuitous purchased on mere reference from another how to write book of other genre. I was concluding on my forth-coming children’s book( Bimbo’s Amazing Adventure, with Animals, Birds and Insects)
It is didactic, systematic, and very easy to understand. It contains views of best sellers and also writers on crime or suspense and mystery books.
I recommend whenever reviewed, books or teachings of writers from the other English -speaking world from Africa, United Kingdom Australia etc, be involved too.
Bravo, for a great book on how to write crime or suspense book
5 people found this helpful
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happy_monkey
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended - worth a place on any crime reader's boookshelf
Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2020
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Wonderful book! Howdunit is a collection of thoughts on crime writing (by 90 past and present members of the Detection Club - a mix of current writers and Golden Age authors) linked by informative commentaries by the editor, Martin Edwards.

I read it from start to finish, but it could just as easily be dipped into, or looked at under the various headings/categories such as plot, character, pacing, themes etc.

The content is useful for aspiring writers but fascinating to this reader. As I had not heard of some of the authors, I have a new list of writers to investigate.

I purchased the Kindle version, but this is one of the few books that I will also buy in paper version.

Highly recommended.
13 people found this helpful
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Kim Grass
5.0 out of 5 stars Future writer approved
Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2023
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My 14 year old son is writing a crime mystery and really enjoys the pointers from this book
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TapTheLine
4.0 out of 5 stars A generous gift from the historical Detection Club.
Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2022
Founded in 1930 and with a history that spans more than nine decades, The Detection Club is "the world's oldest social network of crime writers" and in its membership register we encounter some of the leading authors of the genre, beginning with the genre's pioneers Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, and Ronald Knox, and stretching all the way to our era with storytellers of the magnitude of Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Peter James, Mark Billingham and Anne Cleeves to name just a few. In 2020, the club's ninetieth birthday, the current President, Martin Edwards, had the idea to prompt the members of the club to contribute their bit in a collection of essays covering every single aspect of crime writing such as plotting, setting, characterization, research and many others, thus offering a gift to aspiring authors and the loyal readership of crime stories who opt to be entertained by gloomy stories most often involving murder. Even though the club is consisted predominantly of British scribblers, there have been some notable exceptions such as Patricia Highsmith and Ngaio Marsh who were introduced to this exclusive, membership is by invitation-only, group of crime writers.

Edwards is the editor of the ninety short -sometimes very short- essays of several popular authors whose work won the readership's heart because of their innovative ways of storytelling, the use of special narrative tricks, and the delivery of inventive storyline, regardless of the sub-genre in which they fall under. The club has members active on classical whodunits, spy fiction, psychological thrillers, and suspense novels, thus a variety of diverging views on the subject are all assimilated in a single book, full of wittiness and insight on everything related to the creation of a decent crime novel. Edwards suggestion regarding the publication of Howdunit was warmly received by the members of the club who accepted to sideline their current projects in order to participate in this endeavor which is unparalleled in terms of the variety of authors included and length. As Martin Edwards writes in his brief introduction: "The result is not a textbook or manual; readers wishing to delve into the minutiae of police and courtroom procedure, forensic science, and the law of libel should look elsewhere. Instead the contributors offer a treasure trove of wit, wisdom, and anecdotes". While the book's focus is on present-day writing and authors, there are also some interjections by the progenitors that offer a more rounded and rooted in history perception of the subject.

The book is divided into several different chapters, each emphasizing on a particular facet of crime writing, broadly defined by the editor in order to let the authors have a respective freedom regarding the content of their essays. Thus, we have chapters named "Motives", "People", "Places", "M.O" and so on, allowing the reader to rationally organize his reading and helping him to retain a sense of order in a seemingly chaotic collection of nearly a hundred entries. Crime fiction aficionados will undoubtedly find some of their own favorite authors and it was thrilling taking a peek into the complex machinations of the writing process that have resulted in some of our all-time favorite novels of the genre. Ian Rankin, in his essay titled "Why Crime Fiction Is Good For You" discloses his thoughts on the literary merits of crime stories, arguing that the majority of the so-called "literary" novels adopt tropes and narrative structures which belong to the essential characteristics of crime fiction, and he moves a step further by saying: "If we examine the canon of Western literature, especially the novel, we find that the main ingredients of crime fiction -violence, sudden reversals, mystery, deception, moral dilemmas and so on- can be found everywhere, from the Greek epics to contemporary Booker Prize winners". The power of deduction is combined with psychological subtleties and moral ambiguities that render the genre's works timeless and always topical.

I also enjoyed Mark Billingham's take on building suspense and especially his comparison between puns and crime novels: "It may sound surprising, but, having made the move from stand-up comedy to crime writing, I quickly discovered that a joke and a crime novel work in very much a same way". The act of revelation, a significant weapon in the hands of the writers of suspense novels functions in the same way that the punchline does for a successful joke. P.D. James and Ann Cleeves offer their view on the significance of the setting for a story to take place and their arguments should be heard as Cleeves is the author of the beloved Shetland series, one of the most compelling terrains in contemporary crime fiction, a fact that became even more evident in the television adaptation of her novels. Michael Ridpath talks about "Setting Stories in Unfamiliar Places" and explains his decision to set his novels in the Icelandic wilderness. He offers many advices on how to conduct the proper research required for the descriptions to have credibility and writes about his own inquiries on the Icelandic landscape, culture, and people. I found this essay particularly enlightening as I always wondered how authors can conjure images of places which they have never visited.

Val McDermid ponders on the importance of the story that should become the "driver" for the author of any kind of crime novel. She writes: "One of the reasons for the popularity of crime fiction is its faithfulness to the idea of narrative. Crime novels provide their readers with stories that engage with their hearts and minds, but most of all, stories that make sense". The acclaimed Scottish author also stresses the importance of the structure and how crime storytellers love to mess with the linear narrative that has a beginning, a middle, and an end, sometimes by beginning their story from the finale and moving backwards, a technique that has gained immense popularity mainly through the works of psychological thriller writers. It is the writer's burden to find the appropriate structure for his story to breathe and be both plausible and entertaining to the reader. Other issues such as the use of first or third-person narration and the adoption of multiple perspective narration are also discussed in McDermid's concise essay. Kate Ellis argues about structuring the plot and the craft of plotting in general. She reveals that this is the part most difficult and time consuming in her attempt to tell a crime story and by explaining her own process of research and keeping notes that help her keeping her thoughts in order, thus resulting in a tight, engaging plotline.

Overall, I think that Howdunit: A Masterclass in Crime Writing by Members of the Detection Club is a must-buy for the crime fiction aficionados and much more for those who aspire to write someday their own novel. The essays are brimming with invaluable information gathered from the authors' personal experiences, however the book as whole is by no means didactic, in a way that promotes a certain approach to crime writing. In the contrary, it is the drastic differing in opinions that makes this a highly recommendable read as we get the opportunity to realize the versatility and subjectivity of the subject. The members of the Detection Club are not aligned regarding how they view their vocation and this diversity constitutes the cardinal message of this book. A crime novel is not written in vacuum and the text is inextricably linked with the proclivities and peculiarities of the author. This interplay between the author and his work produces the final result, the novel that cloaks its creator's soul and essence as an artist. I would also urge you to read this book because it is a great opportunity to learn more crime authors whose work maybe has fallen under your radar until now. I would like to congratulate Martin Edwards and the contributors for their solid work and I'm sure that this book will be rendered a reference point for crime fiction scholars for the years to come.
2 people found this helpful
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Suzanne Williams
5.0 out of 5 stars A Golden Addition
Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2021
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This is a compilation about writing mysteries by a varied group of mystery writers. From mystery opening to resolution, these authors have written about their thoughts and methods. It is not a "how to" write a mystery. But reflections on the methods and processes these authors developed as they honed their craft. It's a good pick-up-and-read wherever the book may open, not a start to finish read.
4 people found this helpful
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Susan Specht Oram
5.0 out of 5 stars Essays from crime writers tell the inside story
Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2021
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An informative book with essays by many well-known and not-so-well-known crime writers on how they write. A must for writers. It belongs on every author's book shelf.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Elspeth
5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 6, 2023
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The author Martin Edwards stands above his peers as an expert in his field.
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Joan Fallon
5.0 out of 5 stars INFORMATIVE
Reviewed in Spain on December 6, 2020
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I enjoyed the book, a collection of comments, opinions and advice from a range of writers of crime fiction.
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Rob Mallows
5.0 out of 5 stars Lots to enjoy for crime and thriller fans
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 28, 2020
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Very long book, very much one for dipping into rather than reading cover to cover. Contains the first new writing in about eight years by Len Deighton - to whom this booked is dedicated. if you are a fan of crime and thriller and spy fiction, then there is plenty to delight here, with insights from masters alive and now passed on, and stories and anecdotes about the process of writing and the characters these authors have shaped over the years.
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Keith Parkinson
4.0 out of 5 stars Advice from crime writing experts.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 19, 2021
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I bought this book primarily because it was compiled by Martin Edwards. Several of his books have concentrated on the golden age of British crime fiction and they have all been enjoyable. He is also involved with the reissue of classic crime novels and having read most of these reissues I am familiar with several of the authors featured in "Howdunit". All the 90 contributors to the book are past and present members of the Detection Club and their articles are mainly concerned with the production of crime fiction. However, you do not need to be a crime writer to enjoy what might be regarded as advice to other crime writers. This is a book that you can dip into from time to time although I was carried away for an hour or so once I started reading.
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