''Mystery Scene'' is an American magazine, first published in 1985, that covers the crime and mystery genre with a mix of articles, profiles, criticism, and extensive reviews of books, films, TV, short stories, audiobooks, and reference works.

Editorial focus & contents

''Mystery Scene'' is pitched to mystery readers and fans, as opposed to writers or other industry professionals. Each issue contains commentary, several articles, author profiles, appreciations of particular subgenres or writers, letters to the editor, and 150+ reviews of new novels, audiobooks, reference works, kid’s mysteries, short stories, TV shows, films, paperback originals, and websites. News items, cartoons, jokes, quotes, and anecdotes round out its front-of-the book “Hints & Allegations” pages.

Features

:Profiles range from best-selling authors, including

Lee Child James Dover Grant (born 29 October 1954), primarily known by his pen name Lee Child, is a British author who writes thriller novels, and is best known for his ''Jack Reacher'' novel series. The books follow the adventures of a former American ...

Michael Connelly Michael Joseph Connelly (born July 21, 1956) is an American author of detective novels and other crime fiction, notably those featuring LAPD Detective Hieronymus "Harry" Bosch and criminal defense attorney Mickey Haller. Connelly is the bes ...

Charlaine Harris Charlaine Harris Schulz (born November 25, 1951) is an American author who specializes in Mystery fiction, mysteries. She is best known for her book series ''The Southern Vampire Mysteries'', which was adapted as the TV series ''True Blood''. The ...

, Laurie R. King,

Dennis Lehane Dennis Lehane (born August 4, 1965) is an American author. He has published more than a dozen novels; the first several were a series of mysteries featuring recurring characters, including ''A Drink Before the War''. Of these, four were adapted a ...

Sara Paretsky Sara Paretsky (born June 8, 1947) is an American author of detective fiction, best known for her novels focused on the protagonist V. I. Warshawski. Life and career Paretsky was born in Ames, Iowa. Her father was a microbiologist and moved the ...

, and

Ian Rankin Sir Ian James Rankin (born 28 April 1960) is a Scottish crime writer, best known for his Inspector Rebus novels. Early life Rankin was born in Cardenden, Fife. His father, James, owned a grocery shop, and his mother, Isobel, worked in a schoo ...

, to the up-and-coming such as James R. Benn, Michael Koryta, Lisa Lutz, G. M. Malliet, and Stefanie Pintoff. :Articles focus on writers (

Daphne du Maurier Dame Daphne du Maurier, Lady Browning, (; 13 May 1907 – 19 April 1989) was an English novelist, biographer and playwright. Her parents were actor-manager Sir Gerald du Maurier and his wife, actress Muriel Beaumont. Her grandfather was Geor ...

, Stuart Neville,

Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe (; Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is wide ...

), characters (

Trixie Belden Trixie Belden is the title character in a series of "detective" mysteries written between 1948 and 1986. The first six books were written by Julie Campbell Tatham, who also wrote the Ginny Gordon series; the stories were then continued by variou ...

Jack Reacher Jack Reacher is the protagonist of a series of crime thriller novels by British author Lee Child. In the stories, Jack Reacher was a major in the US Army's military police. Having left the Army at age 36, Reacher roams the United States, tak ...

), films and TV shows (humorous mystery movies, David Simon, ''

The Rockford Files ''The Rockford Files'' is an American detective drama television series starring James Garner that aired on the NBC network from September 13, 1974 to January 10, 1980, and remains in syndication. Garner portrays Los Angeles private investigator ...

'', ''The Three Maltese Falcons''), and subgenres (

legal thriller The legal thriller genre is a type of crime fiction genre that focuses on the proceedings of the investigation, with particular reference to the impacts on courtroom proceedings and the lives of characters. The courtroom proceedings and legal a ...

s, romantic suspense, crime novels of the Civil Rights era), among other topics.

Regular columns

:Eye Witness Critic Kevin Burton Smith
The Thrilling Detective Website
commentary on topics relevant to private-eye fiction. :Gormania Novelist (and ''Mystery Scene's'' former editor)

Edward Gorman Edward Joseph Gorman Jr. (November 2, 1941 – October 14, 2016) was an American writer and short fiction anthologist. He published in almost every genre, but is best known for his work in the crime, mystery, western, and horror fields. His no ...

comments on the writing life and discusses films, books and TV shows. :Mystery Miscellany Louis Phillips tackles trivia, humor, and tongue-in-cheek teasers. :The Murders in Memory Lane

Lawrence Block Lawrence Block (born June 24, 1938) is an American crime writer best known for two long-running New York-set series about the recovering alcoholic P.I. Matthew Scudder and the gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr. Block was named a Grand Mas ...

offers recollections of interesting crime writers he has met over the years. :New Books Essays Authors of upcoming books reveal real-life inspirations, unusual adventures in the name of research, or take a closer look at a story's locale or time period. :Beyond the Book A series by Dick Lochte about classic literary sleuths from Sam Spade to

The Saint The Saint may refer to: Fiction * Simon Templar, also known as "The Saint", the protagonist of a book series by Leslie Charteris and subsequent adaptations: ** ''The Saint'' (film series) (1938–43), starring Louis Hayward, George Sanders an ...

reappearing in other media formats.

Review columns

:What About Murder? Criti
Jon L. Breen
reviews mystery nonfiction & reference works. :Small Press Reviews''

assesses releases from small independent publishers. :Sounds of Suspense'
Dick Lochte
��s audio-book reviews. :Very Original Paperback original novels assessed b
Lynne F. Maxwell
an
Hank Wagner
:Short & Sweet A look at the latest in short stories by Benjamin Boulden, editor of the book blo
Gravetapping
:Mystery Scene Reviews Edited b
Teri Duerr
each issue offers 30-40 reviews of novels from major publishers, plus reviews of small press titles, mass market paperbacks, audio-book publishers, and nonfiction works. Reviews from 2002 onward are available in the searchable onlin
Mystery Scene Book Review Database

History

''Mystery Scene Magazine'' was conceived in a phone call between Ed Gorman, a writer and editor of mystery novels, short stories and anthologies, and Robert Randisi, the author of several mystery series, and later the founder and executive director of ''The Private Eye Writers of America''. Both men felt the need for a magazine that would be to the mystery field wha
Locus
was to the science fiction genre—news and views on the genre’s writers and the publishing business. (Over the years, ''Mystery Scene'' has evolved into a reader-centered consumer publication although crime writers still have a strong presence at the magazine.) The first issue, four pages long, was mailed with the October 1985 issue of ''Mystery & Detective Monthly'', a letterzine published by active mystery fan Robert “Cap’n Bob” Napier of

Tacoma, Washington Tacoma ( ) is the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. A port city, it is situated along Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, Washington, Olympia, and northwest of Mount ...

. By the 52-page third issue in 1986, the magazine was no longer distributed with the fanzine, and the now-standard mix of interviews, profiles, news notes, obituaries, reviews, letters columns, and opinion pieces was established. A feature in which first novelists introduced their works would eventually be extended to veteran writers who discussed their latest novels. The first 75 issues of the magazine form a documentary record of developments, concerns, and controversies in the field over this 17-year period. Short stories appeared occasionally as early as “On Guard” by John Lutz in #5 (September 1986), but they were never a regular feature. In 1990 Gorman’s business partner, anthologist Martin H. Greenberg, became a co-publisher, and by April 1991, Randisi, whose participation had gradually decreased, sold his stake in the magazine to Greenberg. In 2002, owners Ed Gorman and Martin H. Greenberg turned over the reins t
Kate Stine
a veteran book and magazine editor in the crime and mystery field, and her husband,Brian Skupin, a long-time mystery fan. Stine is editor-in-chief and handles day-to-day operations. Skupin edited the now retired column "What's Happening With" and oversees MysterySceneMag.com. Their first issue, Fall #76 in September 2002, featured a lengthy tribute to outgoing editor and publisher Ed Gorman, "Ed Gorman: Writer, Editor, Mentor," from his many friends in the mystery community.

Awards won by the magazine

2004 Anthony Award for Best Fan Publication presented at the 2004 Bouchercon World Mystery Convention. 2006 Ellery Queen Award for significant contributions to mystery publishing given by the

Mystery Writers of America Mystery Writers of America (MWA) is an organization of mystery and crime writers, based in New York City. The organization was founded in 1945 by Clayton Rawson, Anthony Boucher, Lawrence Treat, and Brett Halliday. It presents the Edgar Award ...

. 2009 Poirot Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Mystery at Malice Domestic XXI in Arlington, Va. 2011 Bouchercon Fan Guests of Honor, Kate Stine and Brian Skupin, 2010 Bouchercon Fan Guests of Honor.''Mystery Scene'' publishers Kate Stine and Brian Skupin were honored at the 2011 Bouchercon held in St. Louis.

Awards given by the magazine

The American Mystery Award is a major award given by ''Mystery Scene'' magazine in past years. For example, Richard Hoyt's book ''Siege'' (1987) won the American Mystery Award for Best Espionage Novel. The award has been discontinued.

References

{{Reflist, 30em

External links

Mystery Scene Magazine's official website

Mystery Scene Blog
1985 establishments in the United States Literary magazines published in the United States Magazines established in 1985 Magazines published in Washington (state) Magazines published in Iowa Mass media in Cedar Rapids, Iowa Mystery fiction magazines