Gregory Mcdonald

Gregory Mcdonald, winner of the Edgar and for my money one of the finest writers of crime fiction, has passed away.

Best known as the author of the FLETCH series, Mcdonald was one of the most confident writers in the crime genre, someone who was able to carry entire chapters through pure dialogue --- witty and unforgettable exchanges in which there was never any doubt who was doing the talking. His characters were smart and his plots ingenious.

The film adaptations of the early books which featured Chevy Chase, though enjoyable for what they were, never came close to capturing the effortless cool of Mcdonald's writing. Read any of his books and you'll wonder why you didn't sooner. They are compulsively readable. The Fletch series is a must, but I'd also recommend his books featuring Inspector Flynn.

His passing is a tremendous loss to the world of crime fiction. Remember him, and read his books.