Watching the Detectives

In this collection of essays, a number of critics offer commentary on the crime fiction genre, exploring the kinds of pleasure it offers. Looking under the attractive surface of these books, the contributors discover a number of complex issues. They show that crime fiction can discuss the status of women, the nature of law and the possibilities of truth. It can also confirm or disrupt contemporary notions of criminality and citizenship, and may even be capable of sustained radicalism. Ian A.Bell has also written "Defoe's Fiction". Graham Daldry has also written "Charles Dickens and the Form of the Novel".