Best New Mystery-Novel Heroine

by Larry Winebrenner Writer      Murder mystery novel heroines were not totally unknown before Miss Marple, but with the coming of that sly old lady, they came into their own.  Nancy Drew made it all right to be a young sleuth. Kinsey Miljhone made it proper to be a PI. Now, there is even s website devoted entirely to female sleuths.

     Recently, a reader of The Case of the Locked Drawer said the book introduced the most original sleuth of the decade. He was talking about Etta Derringer. Another reader called her, "a spunky lady who made Sherlock Holmes look like an amateur."
     What makes Etta so different is

• She is 92-years-old
• She is wheelchair bound
• She uses wits, a computer, and a telephone to solve crimes
• She uses an alter-ego---Henri Derringer---to take credit for solving the case
• She is believable
• She is witty

Readers agree and add attributes showing their acceptance as a real person.

     Is she a real person? That is, is she the living person from whom Etta is patterned? Yes and no. No one person stands---or sits in the seat---as the one model for Etta. Yet, the author did spend several years as chaplain of Epworth Village Retirement Community. [Yes, the place is real, very much as depicted in the novel.] Rationally, then, you would have to believe he picked up characteristics from many reflected in all the characters.

     It is not too extreme to say characters make the novel. This is true even of a murder mystery novel. Add surprising twists, a fascinating and suspenseful action to lovable characters and you have the makings of a mystery you "just can't put down."

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Created on Dec 31st 1969 18:00. Viewed 0 times.

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