Once Upon Crime in this past Sunday’s The Boston Globe Magazine explores just what it is about Boston that breeds such talented crime writers as Dennis Lehane and Robert B. Parker (among others). One conclusion drawn is:
But there is something besides aesthetics that Boston has over many other cities, and that’s an unbelievably emotional history of strife, tension, and disappointment. From the tea party to the Irish gangs, from the racial battles to the Red Sox, the city’s past provides endless layers of material for aspiring writers and helps them build complex characters who ultimately lead to great crime fiction.
The article is a great read whether you love, hate, or love to hate bean town.
myfanwy collins 