Reviews of How To Write A Mystery

"How To Write A Mystery is an in-depth study of classical story structure and story telling by one of the masters of the craft. Perceptive, detailed, and thorough, it belongs on every writers bookshelf. If you want to write crime novels and you want a leg up on everybody else, start here. I wish I'd had this book twenty years ago...."

Steven Womack
Edgar Award-winning author of Way Past Dead

“What makes this books so good is Beinhart’s no-nonsnese honesty: not just about the genre, but about writing and publishing in general. From the first page, you’lll know you’re heaing the fact fro someone who’s been thre. This book can’t give you talent, but it will help you harness what talent you have. And if nothing else, it’s a smart, entertaining and sometimes hilarious read."

Andrew Klavan

Larry Beinhart is a righteous Oxford don and this book is a post post graduate course in wrting great crime fiction. Anyone aspiring to write has to bring a native intelligence and talen to the plate, but beyond that they’ve got to know the fundamental mystery writing form. Larry “the Don” Beinhart elucidates that form with greatest precsion and bedrock sensibility. If you want to write righteous mystery novels - buy this book.

James Ellroy

I read this book in manuscript. When I was halfway through, I just wanted to ask one thing - can I keep it?

Anne Perry

"For the professional writer, How To Write a Mystery" is peppered with "Oh yeahs," and "That's rights!" and "I've always wondered about thats." Anyone who enjoys thinking and talking about the process is in for a real treat. It's sort of like hoisting a few with an old friend who happens to be a writer you admire."

Justin Scott

It turns out that Larry Beinhart is as talentedan essayist as he is a novelist.How To Write A Mystery is informative, hilarious, and pulsively readable. In fact,, I’d even recommend it to people who aren’t planning to write a mystery.. This guy Beinhart better watch it - a guy could get in trouble for writing this well.

Peter Blauner

Larry Beinhart is a wonderful writer. When he give advice on writing mysteries, people would do well to listen.

Sharon McCrumb

Larry Beinhart is a fine teacher, as his students at Oxford know. He is also a fine mystery writer as his many happy readers know. Now he’s combined his talents in a book that teache you how to write they mystery. Whether you want to learn or just to read for pleasure, have I got a book for you.

Donald Westlake