Whose style do you admire most?

[carole gill]

A real toughie this, but if you had to name only one writer (of crime fiction) that you think was the best--who would you name?

[DADavenport]

Dahiell Hammett.

[carole gill]

terrific. hammett. just reading maltese falcon, i thought it would be dated just a bit, but it isn't. it's so sharp and cool and clever. also glass key, will read that next. thanks.

[DADavenport]

What amazed me is that Maltese Falcon is SO perfect, it was barely changed at all for the movie. A few extra pieces of dialogue that empghasized the attraction Cairo had for Elmer and a veiled hint that Sam and Brigid slept together and that was probably cut by the Hays Office.

The man was a god!

[carole gill]

i know. i was surprised at the romance between the two. that censorship was too much in those days! but the story as a whole survived nicely onto the screen. i could hear Sam Spade as Bogie say every word though as i was reading it. it must have been something for the reader before the film--I would imagine.

[Dana King]

Raymond Chandler. Living author, Elmore Leonard. Living and under 80 years old, tie between John Connolly and Robert Crais.

[carole gill]

great thank you. it's hard to narrow it down to one choice!

[Donna Moore]

It's a VERY tough choice. If I'm forced to go for one, I'm going to pick one who hasn't been mentioned (since some of my favourites already have - Bruen, Chandler) and say Daniel Woodrell. Every single word is sheer genius.

[carole gill]

thank you. i'm making a list on these replies. daniel woodrell, will surely check onhim!

[DADavenport]

Living authors, I am tied between Ken Bruen and Carol O'Connell. I live for the next Mallory installment!

[carole gill]

thank you. much appreciated. duly noted!

[Donna Carrick]

Thanks, Donna, there's a new name to add to my reading list: Daniel Woodrell.

[Stuart MacBride]

R.D. Wingfield - greatest crime writer ever to work in the genre, and now sadly missed.