Mystery Fiction With a Sense of Humour Quiz

Answer: Robert L. Fish

In a series of short stories, many published in "Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine" Homes and Watney dash through the gas-lit streets of London, ignoring the obvious in search of the glaringly wrong conclusion. The stories have been collected in 1990's "Schlock Homes - the Complete Bagel Street Saga".

Answer: I Still Miss my Man, But my Aim is Getting Better

Kinky Friedman, the country music singer and writer, writes a series of books in which Kinky Friedman, country music singer and writer, solves mysteries. "I Still Miss my Man...", written by Sarah Shankman, is a quasi-mystery in which the spirit of Patsy Cline acts as a sort of Guardian Angel to a young Nashville songwriter.

Answer: actor

Charles Paris, a never-very-successful actor, now middle-aged, not quite divorced, lives alone in a dreary bed-sit and gets through his frequent periods of 'resting' with the help of Bell's whiskey. Doesn't sound like much fun, does it? It is, though. Simon Brett is also the author of the less subtle, but almost as good "Mrs. Pargeter" series, about the oh-so proper widow of a crime boss.

Answer: Baltimore

Hitch is an undertaker and amateur detective. Author Tim Cockey shows a real love for the city of Baltimore.

Answer: Elvis

Elvis Lives! "Lonely Street" has Bubba doing some P.I. work for the King of Rock and Roll. Maybe.

Answer: Burglars Can't be Choosers

This series, by Laurence Block, can be counted on for witty dialogue, clever word-play, and convoluted plots that always come to a satisfying conclusion.

Answer: Nero Wolfe

Haig believes that Wolfe really is living just a few blocks over, on West 35th, and someday, maybe, will call him up. In the meantime, he is training Chip to be another Archie Goodwin, and cultivating eccentricities for all he's worth. This short but good series is by Laurence Block.

Answer: Evan Hunter

As readers of the 87th Precinct novels already know, Evan Hunter (also known as Ed McBain) can be a pretty funny fellow when he wants to be.

Answer: John Dortmunder

Andy and Stan are members of the gang, and Mologna (pronounced Maloney) is a Chief Inspector of Police. This series started in 1970, with "The Hot Rock" and is still the best comic crime series around, in my opinion.

Answer: Smoke

You would think that invisibility would be a professional asset to a thief, but there are complications.

Answer: Leo Waterman

1995's "Who in Hell is Wanda Fuca" was the first in this series by G.M. Ford.

Answer: the Miss America pageant

This series, written by Sarah Shankman, started off as fairly standard nosy reporter books. Then the heroine, Sam Adams, started researching her proposed book, "Weird America", and it has evolved into something quite different. The spun sugar plots, eccentric characters, and Shankman's own unique voice make for a very interesting reading experience.

Answer: Dave Barry

Actually, "fast-paced romp" could describe pretty well any book by any of the four, though Buchanan's books are a little more mainstream. "Big Trouble" was Dave Barry's first foray into novel writing (he has of course written many humor books, and writes a regular column for the Miami Herald) but not the last. "Tricky Business" came out in 2002.

Answer: an ex-governor who lives in a swamp

Skink, a sort of eco-terrorist-madman appears in many of Hiaasen's books. "Bert the Shirt" is a character in Laurence Shames' books, Raylen Givens, the U.S. marshal, is by Elmore Leonard, and the 'salvage consultant' is John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee.

Answer: Susan Isaacs

Fans of the 1978 book's smart-talking heroine were pleased to see that a sequel "Long Time No See" was released in 2001.