Little Boxes of Bewilderment: Suspense Comedies

From Library Journal\nThis well-edited collection of short mystery stories serves as a useful introduction to the work of John George Ritchie, who died in 1983. Taken from various sources, the stories in this first hardcover collection include some of Ritchie's best, exhibiting the minimalist style, "tough guy" point of view, black humor, and ironic surprise endings that characterize his work. As Nevins notes in his introduction, the stories are finally "little boxes of bewilderment." The writing style, characters, and endings may become formulaic and predictable, but the collection as a whole will be popular with mystery readers and those looking for good vacation reading. Fans will find the detailed bibliography helpful.
- Elizabeth Guiney Sandvick, North Hennepin Community Coll., Minneapolis
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.