Fiction_L Archives Legal thrillers -- Fiction or mystery Dates: 3/15/02,11:03 AM  through  3/18/02,9:21 AM  (8 postings) Search for: Select one or more indexes to search: 2011-current     2009-2010     2004-2008    1995-2003    (Matches from each index will be displayed separately in the results page.) Return to March 2002 thread menu   |   Fiction_L Archives Menu

FROM: Andrew Smith <[removed]@mail.wrl.org>
REC'D: 3/15/02, 11:03 AM

Like many other subscribers, Williamsburg Regional Library uses stickers
to identify mysteries and science fiction titles. One of our staff
members came across an interesting situation that seemed perfect for this
group, namely:

Are legal thrillers fiction or mysteries?

It seems from looking at other libraries' catalogues that we are not alone
in this - authors like Jay Brandon, William Bernhardt and Steve Martini
are likely to be classed in either area. We've even seen titles in the
same series alternate between mystery and fiction. Even LC isn't
consistent.

Do people have standards they use to place legal thrillers in one camp or
the other? How do we define mysteries?

Thoughts?

*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*

Andrew Smith [removed]@mail.wrl.org
Readers Services Librarian
Williamsburg Regional Library (757) 259-4050
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
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FROM: [removed]@pacbell.net
REC'D: 3/15/02, 12:06 PM

In this small library (10,000 vols.), we've broadened the scope of "mysteries"
to include suspense. Legal thrillers and spy novels therefore join more
traditional mysteries and detective stories in "Mystery/Suspense."

Rita Ching
Town & Country Club
San Francisco CA
[removed]@pacbell.net

Andrew Smith wrote:

> Like many other subscribers, Williamsburg Regional Library uses stickers
> to identify mysteries and science fiction titles. One of our staff
> members came across an interesting situation that seemed perfect for this
> group, namely:
>
> Are legal thrillers fiction or mysteries?
>
> It seems from looking at other libraries' catalogues that we are not alone
> in this - authors like Jay Brandon, William Bernhardt and Steve Martini
> are likely to be classed in either area. We've even seen titles in the
> same series alternate between mystery and fiction. Even LC isn't
> consistent.
>
> Do people have standards they use to place legal thrillers in one camp or
> the other? How do we define mysteries?
>
> Thoughts?
>
> *_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
>
> Andrew Smith [removed]@mail.wrl.org
> Readers Services Librarian
> Williamsburg Regional Library (757) 259-4050
> _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html

FROM: "Jeannine Cook" <[removed]@co.douglas.or.us>
REC'D: 3/15/02, 12:37 PM

We've gone round and round on this issue as well. Because "suspense" can be
everything from a legal thriller to a spy story to a "woman in distress" story,
we tend to keep those in the standard fiction. The really short and dirty
approach to classifying a mystery - Is there a dead body? If so, is someone
(detective, P.I., amateur sleuth) trying to find out who-dun-it? Most legal
thrillers are more concerned with the legal case and/or staying alive.
Naturally there are ALWAYS exceptions.


--
Jeannine Cook
Adult Services Librarian

Douglas County Library
1409 NE Diamond Lake Blvd.
Roseburg OR 97470
[removed]@co.douglas.or.us
phone: (541)440-6013
fax: (541)440-6011

FROM: "Marla" <[removed]@orion.mtgr.mtlib.org>
REC'D: 3/15/02, 1:09 PM

Hi. I have gone around and around with this question, too. A year
or so ago, I purchased a nifty little booklet (and I think someone on
this list recommended it) called THE ARRT GENRE FICTION LIST
compiled and published by the Adult Reading Round Table
Steering Committee (Illinois), c1999.

It's a self evaluation guide, but also has good succint definitions of
different genres, including mysteries and suspense/thrillers. Those
definitions have helped me.

Now, before you ask where I got this gem, I will hang my head, put
my paw over my eye, and whine, "I don't remember!"

But, maybe someone on this list can enlighten with an address
and/or if it's still available, etc. mmmmm? BYE!

Marla/Great Falls Public Library/Acquisitions
301 2nd Ave N
Great Falls MT 59401-2593
[removed]@orion.mtgr.mtlib.org

"Of all the things I miss, I miss my mind the most."

*************
For reason will convince us that what is necessary to be
performed in the heat of action should constantly be
practised in the leisure of peace.
Vegetius, EPITOMA REI MILITARIS

FROM: Julie Roberts <[removed]@rolling-meadows.lib.il.us>
REC'D: 3/15/02, 1:30 PM

Hello. According to my information, legal thrillers are suspense, which
fits into regular or general fiction. Mysteries are usually not as
suspenseful, scary or "thrilling". Julie A. Roberts
[removed]@rolling-meadows.lib.il.us

-----Original Message-----
From: Andrew Smith [[removed]@mail.wrl.org]
Sent: Friday, March 15, 2002 1:11 PM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: Legal Thrillers - Fiction or Mystery?

Like many other subscribers, Williamsburg Regional Library uses stickers
to identify mysteries and science fiction titles. One of our staff
members came across an interesting situation that seemed perfect for this
group, namely:

Are legal thrillers fiction or mysteries?

It seems from looking at other libraries' catalogues that we are not alone
in this - authors like Jay Brandon, William Bernhardt and Steve Martini
are likely to be classed in either area. We've even seen titles in the
same series alternate between mystery and fiction. Even LC isn't
consistent.

Do people have standards they use to place legal thrillers in one camp or
the other? How do we define mysteries?

Thoughts?

*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*

Andrew Smith [removed]@mail.wrl.org
Readers Services Librarian
Williamsburg Regional Library (757) 259-4050
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

FROM: "Warner, Deb" <[removed]@co.durham.nc.us>
REC'D: 3/15/02, 1:51 PM

We had an intern from the local library school who wrote up guidelines for
genrefication as a master's thesis that were so useful (and amusing), we
used them when we split off genre fiction from the general fiction a few
years ago.
As I remember, mysteries (our biggest secondary category in any case)
had to be confined to those with continuing detective characters, of
whichever flavor. Most of the legal and medical thrillers ended up staying
in general fiction. It was along the lines of:
a policeman appearing in more than one novel investigating serial
killers: Mystery
a "one off" novel about a serial killer General Fiction
UNLESS said killer is posessed by an evil entity, in which case it's Horror
If they are doing it on space ships or with magic swords, Science Fiction
or Fantasy respectively
If they are doing it as part of an international spy ring, Adventure ( we
added the spy stuff here to fill it out)
Somehow, I don't think a marriage at the end would make it Romance, happy
endings (non-lethal) being required for this category

FROM: Melissa Norton <[removed]@yahoo.com>
REC'D: 3/15/02, 3:45 PM

This is one of the hardest genres to define -- things
can get SO subjective. But here goes--
My library (24K volumes) is pretty strict about what
makes a mystery. I see mysteries as shorter, more
character-driven, and 'quieter' than thrillers or
suspense. A lot of the action may occur 'off-screen',
rather than before your eyes.
Of course, none of these are hard and fast rules. At
Bridgton PL, legal thrillers (RN Patterson, Tanenbaum,
Bernhardt, Lescroart, etc) are in general fiction, as
are thriller authors like Sandford, Deaver, James
Patterson, Cornwell and Reichs, although whodunit is
crucial to the plot. Suspense, romantic and
otherwise, is also fiction. Some tough calls lately
have included Andrews' A MURDER OF PROMISE (fiction)
and Minette Walters (mostly mystery).
We have quite a few patrons who read almost
exclusively mysteries, and I am thrilled (sorry) when
I can get them to venture into the fiction stacks, and
vice versa.

Melissa [removed]@Bridgton PL, where the Patricia Cornwell
books have several layers of spine labels,
illustrating how subjective this can be (The topmost
label says FIC COR.)

--- Julie Roberts <[removed]@rolling-meadows.lib.il.us>
wrote:
> Hello. According to my information, legal thrillers
> are suspense, which
> fits into regular or general fiction. Mysteries are
> usually not as
> suspenseful, scary or "thrilling". Julie A. Roberts
>
> [removed]@rolling-meadows.lib.il.us
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Andrew Smith [[removed]@mail.wrl.org]
> Sent: Friday, March 15, 2002 1:11 PM
> To: Fiction_L
> Subject: Legal Thrillers - Fiction or Mystery?
>
> Like many other subscribers, Williamsburg Regional
> Library uses stickers
> to identify mysteries and science fiction titles.
> One of our staff
> members came across an interesting situation that
> seemed perfect for this
> group, namely:
>
> Are legal thrillers fiction or mysteries?
>
> It seems from looking at other libraries' catalogues
> that we are not alone
> in this - authors like Jay Brandon, William
> Bernhardt and Steve Martini
> are likely to be classed in either area. We've even
> seen titles in the
> same series alternate between mystery and fiction.
> Even LC isn't
> consistent.
>
> Do people have standards they use to place legal
> thrillers in one camp or
> the other? How do we define mysteries?
>
> Thoughts?
>
>
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
>
> Andrew Smith
> [removed]@mail.wrl.org
> Readers Services Librarian
> Williamsburg Regional Library
> (757) 259-4050
> _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
> _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
> * * * * * * * * * * *
>
>
>
>
......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L:
> http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html
>
>
>
......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L:
http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html


=====
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Melissa Norton [removed]@bridgton.lib.me.us
Asst. Librarian & Webmaster
Bridgton Public Library http://www.bridgton.lib.me.us
65 Main St.
Bridgton, ME 04009
207-647-2472

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Sports - live college hoops coverage
http://sports.yahoo.com/

FROM: Cynthia Orr <[removed]@cpl.org>
REC'D: 3/18/02, 9:21 AM

There was a thread on this subject awhile back, and is in the October 2000
Thread Menu under Classifying Mystery.
http://www.webrary.org/Maillist/months/October2000menu.html
Hope this helps.
Cindy
---
Cynthia Orr
Collection Manager
Cleveland Public Library
17133 Lake Shore Boulevard
Cleveland, OH 44110
(216) 623-2906
Fax - (216)623-2977
www.cpl.org

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