Patricia D. Cornwell: The Mystery Genre's Savior?

Some believe mystery novels are dying out. Their popularity seems to be waning, especially among those readers of the future: today's youth. In his essay Crime Against Youth, critic Bill Medic argues mystery writers as a group have attacked youth, and young readers in turn have rejected mystery novels, looking to other genres as their reading tastes solidify. This spells an end to the mystery genre unless writers can turn this situation around.

The essay singles out Patricia D. Cornwell, however, as one crime writer who is "youth-friendly." He lists Patricia D. Cornwell's Cruel & Unusual (a book from Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta series) as one of only two crime novels published in the last few decades to feature youth as prominent characters without stereotyping or attacking the young. He suggests Cornwell may be the mystery genre's last hope for survival.

He may be onto something. Anyone who has attended a book reading by Patricia D. Cornwell has noticed that, unlike any other mystery author, Cornwell can attract readers younger than 35, as well as the usual older readers.

Does Patricia D. Cornwell really deserve so much praise? Read the complete article and decide for yourself. Or skip to the part on Patricia D. Cornwell.