The Lineup

"The best book of its kind. . . . An exciting omnibus volume. . . . delivering memorable revelations about the mystery genre and its different incarnations." —Janet Maslin, New York Times

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.


"This book will delight any mystery lover." ―Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Who are more equipped to discourse on the origins, the motivations, the foibles, and the triumphs of their life's work than some of the best-known and most successful mystery and thriller writers on the planet?" —Los Angeles Times

"Tremendous fun—clever, wide-ranging, revealing, even surprising. Bet you can't read just one." —Raleigh News and Observer

"Fiery. . . . The authors take different approaches, but all offer an opportunity to see a familiar character in a new way. . . . It's also a great way to get a taste of some of the series you haven't read yet." —Maureen Corrigan, NPR.org