What do you think?
Rate this book
The Lineup: The World's Greatest Crime Writers Tell the Inside Story of Their Greatest Detectives
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 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.
What was the real-life location that inspired Michael Connelly to make Harry Bosch a Vietnam vet tunnel rat? Why is 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.
407 pages, Hardcover
First published November 10, 2009
327 people are currently reading
1153 people want to read
About the author
Otto Penzler
380 books525 followersOtto Penzler is an editor of mystery fiction in the United States, and proprietor of The Mysterious Bookshop in New York City, where he lives.
Otto Penzler founded The Mysteriour Press in 1975 and was the publisher of The Armchair Detective, the Edgar-winning quarterly journal devoted to the study of mystery and suspense fiction, for seventeen years.
Penzler has won two Edgar Awards, for The Encyclopedia of Mystery and Detection in 1977, and The Lineup in 2010. The Mystery Writers of America awarded him the prestigious Ellery Queen Award in 1994, and the Raven--the group's highest non-writing award--in 2003.
Otto Penzler founded The Mysteriour Press in 1975 and was the publisher of The Armchair Detective, the Edgar-winning quarterly journal devoted to the study of mystery and suspense fiction, for seventeen years.
Penzler has won two Edgar Awards, for The Encyclopedia of Mystery and Detection in 1977, and The Lineup in 2010. The Mystery Writers of America awarded him the prestigious Ellery Queen Award in 1994, and the Raven--the group's highest non-writing award--in 2003.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
March 3, 2017
This is a collection of essays written by crime fiction writers like Lee Child, Michael Connelly, Robert Crais, John Lescroart, and a host of others, describing how they invented the series characters for which they have become so famous. Readers who follow a lot of these authors will find this a very entertaining look behind the scene at the creation of the characters they so enjoy reading about.
January 2, 2010
What an absolute delight! Twenty-two of our best English speaking mystery writers accepted Penzler's invitation to pen a short piece on his/her most celebrated detective. Do read Penzler's intro to find out why. Some of my favorites made the list but there are others I haven't read. Some of the latter made the cut with me based on their submissions, others didn't. The only entry I thought about skipping entirely turned out to be one of the most interesting--Rambo, no less. The joy of this collection is that each author chose his or her unique approach to the subject. Some told us exactly how they came up with their detective; others carefully obscured it in a flurry of words. Most entries were interesting; some induced sleep. The way that they told their tales was every bit as revealing as the tales themselves. At the risk of being a spoiler, I was astounded at how many of these fictional detectives write their own stories and direct the authors to set them down exactly as revealed. Clearly, there needs to be a Volume 2. I'll send my recommendations to Penzler ASAP.
May 21, 2019
Entertaining read
Leave it to Mr. Penzler to come up with an interesting way to find out about recurring characters in some of the popular series (and help out his independent book store, a sadly dying breed). Besides being fascinated at gaining insight into some favorites, I've also expanded my already ungainly TBR list.
Leave it to Mr. Penzler to come up with an interesting way to find out about recurring characters in some of the popular series (and help out his independent book store, a sadly dying breed). Besides being fascinated at gaining insight into some favorites, I've also expanded my already ungainly TBR list.
December 25, 2018
The essays in this collection are written by well-known crime fiction and mystery authors. They tell us how they created the main character that made them famous through either informational essays or short stories that give back story on the characters' history. Some authors' contributions just fell flat for me. I believe this is just because I wasn't interested in the character and series those authors had created. Overall, however, I enjoyed reading this and found it very interesting. I mean, who doesn't want to know how their favorite character came to be, am I right?
December 30, 2014
This was a very entertaining collection of biographies. The breadth of different detectives and the style of the bios was wonderful.
Also, it also gave me ideas for new books to read. I had never thought of reading the Judith Kellerman books, for example. It is a lot of fun and I recommend it to any mystery series fan.
Also, it also gave me ideas for new books to read. I had never thought of reading the Judith Kellerman books, for example. It is a lot of fun and I recommend it to any mystery series fan.
June 11, 2019
Lots of fun! Each author chose very different ways to write about how their primary characters were born/evolved, grew, interacted with others and so on. The book also had the benefit, for me, of introducing me to some writers and characters whom I'd not encountered before. Great last-thing-at-night reading.
March 5, 2010
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 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.
I'm always fascinated by how an author comes up with a story so this was just the book for me. Perhaps the most interesting information was in the Introduction where Otto Penzler explains how this book came about. In searching for a way to bring income to his sinking bookstore he hired authors to write essays and stories that he sold in limited editions. Since they were extremely successful he decided to combine them into one book and make them available to everyone. I'm so glad he did!
I'm not familiar with all of these twenty-two authors' work but I have read many of them. These stories are filled with creative and interesting tidbits about themselves and their characters. I'm always curious to hear more about Lee Childs, Jeffrey Deaver, Jonathan Kellerman and Laura Lippman among others.
My hubby was thrilled to hear that David Morrell, the author of First Blood, was inspired to write his story about John Rambo the Vietnam war vet, after teaching at Penn State University in the 70s. Although the story isn't set in Pennsylvania, a small town near the university is the model for the town in the book. Since my hubby is from that small town he was thrilled to hear the news! He had to watch the movie, and it's two sequels, all over again and he was convinced that in the opening scene he saw the bridge that he rode his bike across as a kid. Well, he didn't really believe it since I pointed it out to him time and time again that the movie setting was only inspired by the town but hey, a guy can dream. And what a cool story!
If you're a fan of mysteries you might be interested in this collection too. And if you're lucky, you may just find your own brush with fame within the pages.
Thank you to Hatchette Books for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
What was the real-life location that inspired Michael Connelly to make Harry Bosch a Vietnam vet tunnel rat? Why is 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.
I'm always fascinated by how an author comes up with a story so this was just the book for me. Perhaps the most interesting information was in the Introduction where Otto Penzler explains how this book came about. In searching for a way to bring income to his sinking bookstore he hired authors to write essays and stories that he sold in limited editions. Since they were extremely successful he decided to combine them into one book and make them available to everyone. I'm so glad he did!
I'm not familiar with all of these twenty-two authors' work but I have read many of them. These stories are filled with creative and interesting tidbits about themselves and their characters. I'm always curious to hear more about Lee Childs, Jeffrey Deaver, Jonathan Kellerman and Laura Lippman among others.
My hubby was thrilled to hear that David Morrell, the author of First Blood, was inspired to write his story about John Rambo the Vietnam war vet, after teaching at Penn State University in the 70s. Although the story isn't set in Pennsylvania, a small town near the university is the model for the town in the book. Since my hubby is from that small town he was thrilled to hear the news! He had to watch the movie, and it's two sequels, all over again and he was convinced that in the opening scene he saw the bridge that he rode his bike across as a kid. Well, he didn't really believe it since I pointed it out to him time and time again that the movie setting was only inspired by the town but hey, a guy can dream. And what a cool story!
If you're a fan of mysteries you might be interested in this collection too. And if you're lucky, you may just find your own brush with fame within the pages.
Thank you to Hatchette Books for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
November 10, 2009
Anyone who loves mystery series books will like this. Otto Penzler is not only an author and editor, but also the owner of Mysterious Bookshop in NYC. In his introduction, Mr. Penzler talks candidly about the financial problems his bookstore (as most independent bookstores) was having and how, as a promotional tool to bring clients in, he contacted authors he knew to provide small "profiles" about their signature characters.
The Lineup is the collection of the character sketches, from some of mystery and thriller genre's biggest names. Each is different and cleverly done. Some authors are very calculating, seeing an existing formula and tweaking it, others focus on a city, image or even a voice, which starts a great detective series. Others tell of their rejection and how they fiddled and adapted their characters to gain interest.
Some examples are:
- Robert Crais interviews his signature character, Elvis Cole.
- Lee Child describes how he developed Jack Reacher and gives hints to new writers
- David Morrell relates the history, thought process and evolution of Rambo
- Stephen Hunter talks about developing Bob Lee Swagger
- Robert B. Parker's Spenser is interviewed by a Harvard Professor
Other well know authors involved are: Lincoln Child, Michael Connelly, John Connolly, Jeffrey Deaver, Ken Bruen, Jonathan Kellerman, John Lescroart, Laura Lippman, Ridley Pearson/Douglas Preston, and others.
The Lineup is the collection of the character sketches, from some of mystery and thriller genre's biggest names. Each is different and cleverly done. Some authors are very calculating, seeing an existing formula and tweaking it, others focus on a city, image or even a voice, which starts a great detective series. Others tell of their rejection and how they fiddled and adapted their characters to gain interest.
Some examples are:
- Robert Crais interviews his signature character, Elvis Cole.
- Lee Child describes how he developed Jack Reacher and gives hints to new writers
- David Morrell relates the history, thought process and evolution of Rambo
- Stephen Hunter talks about developing Bob Lee Swagger
- Robert B. Parker's Spenser is interviewed by a Harvard Professor
Other well know authors involved are: Lincoln Child, Michael Connelly, John Connolly, Jeffrey Deaver, Ken Bruen, Jonathan Kellerman, John Lescroart, Laura Lippman, Ridley Pearson/Douglas Preston, and others.
February 21, 2025
The 22 profiles of fictional detectives by their creators in this book were originally published by Otto Penzler and The Mysterious Bookshop in New York City as a series of hardback collectors' items, and this collection in one volume is a more affordable way to read them all. This book was published in 2010, and most of the profiles were written between 2007 and 2009.
The detectives are a mixture of police detectives and private investigators. Each profile includes a brief author biography and a 20-30 page account of the character - how the author came to create him/her, decisions about characters and their origins, and how the series developed.
Some of my favourite writers have contributed pieces, and I really enjoyed reading some of these accounts.
However, there is limited diversity here. Fourteen authors and sixteen of the detectives are American (and the others are mostly from England, Scotland and Ireland) and only four are women. All the authors are white, and Precious Ramotswe in Alexander McCall Smith's series about a Ladies' Detective Agency in Botswana is the only black character.
An interesting read for crime fiction fans, but the focus of this as a collection feels disappointingly narrow.
The detectives are a mixture of police detectives and private investigators. Each profile includes a brief author biography and a 20-30 page account of the character - how the author came to create him/her, decisions about characters and their origins, and how the series developed.
Some of my favourite writers have contributed pieces, and I really enjoyed reading some of these accounts.
However, there is limited diversity here. Fourteen authors and sixteen of the detectives are American (and the others are mostly from England, Scotland and Ireland) and only four are women. All the authors are white, and Precious Ramotswe in Alexander McCall Smith's series about a Ladies' Detective Agency in Botswana is the only black character.
An interesting read for crime fiction fans, but the focus of this as a collection feels disappointingly narrow.
January 17, 2010
For mystery thriller fans alike whether it be Ken Bruen and his character, Jack Taylor or Jonathan Kellerman and his character Alex Delaware, then you will enjoy The Lineup. Edited by Otto Penzler. This book lets readers into the minds of crime writers. The authors share the back ground story about how they developed their characters, why they became authors, and even share some about their next book.
I enjoyed reading about Ken Bruen’s Jack Taylor. It made him more interesting to me and now I will give his books another try. It was fun learning about Michael Connelly’s childhood and where he grew up. Ever wonder how Mr. Connelly came up with the name Hieronymus Bosch…well you will just have to read about it in The Lineup. There are many authors that are new to me in this book. The Lineup became like a wish list for me of authors and their books I want to read. So if you want the inside scoop on your favorite crime authors…look no further than The Lineup.
I enjoyed reading about Ken Bruen’s Jack Taylor. It made him more interesting to me and now I will give his books another try. It was fun learning about Michael Connelly’s childhood and where he grew up. Ever wonder how Mr. Connelly came up with the name Hieronymus Bosch…well you will just have to read about it in The Lineup. There are many authors that are new to me in this book. The Lineup became like a wish list for me of authors and their books I want to read. So if you want the inside scoop on your favorite crime authors…look no further than The Lineup.
March 1, 2010
How was your favorite detective or police officer created? Learn the scoop on a variety of authors and their main series characters. I loved the chapters by Lee Child on Jack Reacher, Michael Connelly on Harry Bosch, and Colin Dexter on Inspector Morse. I learned all kinds of fascinating things. For example, did you know that as long as Dexter lives, he has a contract clause stipulating that no one but the late John Thaw may portray Inspector Morse? Everyone who enjoys mystery fiction should pick up this book.
March 12, 2020
this was a cool insight into the creation of some of the characters of the mystery series i read.
i even read the ones from the writers i don't read b/c it was still interesting to see the inspiration behind ther writers method.
i recommend it to anyone who reads the writers in the book. it gives great insight into some of your fave characters.
i even read the ones from the writers i don't read b/c it was still interesting to see the inspiration behind ther writers method.
i recommend it to anyone who reads the writers in the book. it gives great insight into some of your fave characters.
October 30, 2019
Otto Penzler was a great editor, helming many compilations over his illustrious career. At first this seemed like a great listen when I discovered it on my library’s digital platform but came to quickly realize there are not that many female authors and no authors of color. Disappointing.
October 5, 2019
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 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.
October 13, 2017
This book was an excellent find and most enjoyable. Otto Penzler has persuaded some of the top mystery writers in the world to write about how their main characters were arrived at. Some write in an autobiographical style whilst others create a short story letting their characters tell the story in different ways. The authors include Lee Child, Michael Connelly, Jeffery Deaver, Colin Dexter, Robert B. Parker, Ian Rankin, Alexander McCall Smith and others so a good selection. Lots of ideas for series to follow up on.
April 2, 2025
Interesting…
While I appreciated all the short essays about the various authors and their central characters, I especially liked those which dealt with authors I have read. Would the narratives about the other authors convince me to read their output? Possibly, if I didn’t have so many unread volumes in my library. So I will reluctantly say that I can’t afford to start other series when I have so many unread in my home. I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the process of writing about and generating a main character for a series.
While I appreciated all the short essays about the various authors and their central characters, I especially liked those which dealt with authors I have read. Would the narratives about the other authors convince me to read their output? Possibly, if I didn’t have so many unread volumes in my library. So I will reluctantly say that I can’t afford to start other series when I have so many unread in my home. I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the process of writing about and generating a main character for a series.
May 7, 2025
I liked this collection of essays and short stories about or written by several crime fiction authors. I particularly enjoyed the writings of Michael Connelly/Heronymus Bosch, Jeffrey Deaver/Lincoln Rhyme, Colin Dexter/Morse, Jonathan Kellerman/Alex Delaware, Anne Perry/Charlotte & Thomas Pitt, Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child/Aloysius X. L. Pendergast, Ian Rankin/John Rebus, and Alexander McCall Smith/Precious Ramotswe. It is the backstory to the authors' principal character that I liked best. The book can be a valuable reference for readers new to any of the authors included in it.
September 6, 2020
I guess a summary of the book is all in the title. Great mystery writers including Jonathan Kellerman, Michael Connolly, Jeffrey Deaver and Alexander McCall Smith tell the stories of how their characters came to life. Some authors tell a straight narrative, others create a short story and a couple conduct interviews with their characters. It makes for an interesting bit of insight into the writers' minds and you'll learn some info about these characters that you didn't know. Enjoyable.
June 29, 2018
Excellent compendium of genesis stories from the creators of the best known and most loved detectives and amateur sleuths in fictional crime series in the mid-1990s through 2008.
Recommended to fans of fictional crime/police procedurals and murder mysteries, participating authors and/or subject series gumshoes, as well as other writers seeking methods of character creation and development.
Recommended to fans of fictional crime/police procedurals and murder mysteries, participating authors and/or subject series gumshoes, as well as other writers seeking methods of character creation and development.
August 14, 2022
Really cool concept to have authors dish on their most popular characters. The authors took their assignments in different directions, such as "interviews" with their characters. I've only read a few of these authors before, so my "to read" list just got even longer.
May 10, 2017
An excellent collection of essays/interviews. Penzler did a terrific job.
December 11, 2017
Excellent background on the books you read for years and learn about new series to experience.
March 27, 2018
Have a listen and learn about some of the characters.
August 2, 2018
A clinker here and there, but especially worthwhile when it is a writer with whom you are acquainted.
December 15, 2018
A highly enjoyable collection of essays. Some interesting information and opinions from some of the finest mystery writers around.
Read
March 12, 2020DNF. Got bored.
April 1, 2021
This was just a fun book to read, learning about the sleuths created by the authors who contributed an essay.
January 8, 2022
Informative
February 16, 2022
Detective stories
The genesis of many of your favorite detectives. Cleverly written! I went to investigate Teacher and stayed for many more.
The genesis of many of your favorite detectives. Cleverly written! I went to investigate Teacher and stayed for many more.
May 30, 2022
So very many books to read
So many books that need to be read and a limited life span to accomplish it. This list will be fun.
So many books that need to be read and a limited life span to accomplish it. This list will be fun.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews