Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Readers Guide to the Classic British Mystery | 1989 | Susan Oleksiw | Buy |
Published in 1989, The Readers Guide to the Classic British Mystery is Susan Oleksiw’s contribution to crime fiction scholarship. The book covers more than 1,440 titles by 121 British mystery authors, each with a full annotation to help readers navigate the genre’s rich history.
Decades after its publication, the Guide is still considered one of the best reference works on British mystery fiction. Oleksiw’s academic background – she holds a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania – shows in the thoroughness of the coverage, while her genuine love for the genre keeps it readable. She later contributed to The Oxford Companion to Crime and Mystery Writing (1999) as a co-editor, further establishing her reputation in mystery criticism.