I started to read this screed on Salon about mystery writers - the author claims that it's all been downhill since Ross McDonald - because I thought there'd be some good controversy to dive into. Instead, it was more of an old crank rant, along the lines of what you hear from aging ex-ballplayers - you know, "back in my day we played the game the right way, these kids now wouldn't have cut it on my team", etc etc etc. Fine, whatever, go read something else. I'm not going to argue about a matter of taste.

I will, however, express the desire to drive up to Delaware, where the author directs the University's journalism program, and slap him silly for including plot spoilers in Michael Connelly's "City of Bones" without any warning. Oh, he doesn't say who dunnit, but he does divulge what happens to the main character and one of the costars. Knowing Connelly's work, and knowing his main character, what is revealed can't be described as a shock, but it still would have been nice to find it out for myself. Thanks a lot, pal.