It’s hard to find the correct word to use when describing Otto Penzler’s relation to America’s greatest mystery novels and thrillers.
The first expression that pops into my mind is “the god of …” but that would probably make him roll his eyes. So maybe “impresario” works better, even if it doesn’t fully capture his importance and the reverence with which his name is treated, especially among voracious fans of crime fiction, and especially among such fans who have lived in New York City and shopped at Penzler’s Mysterious Bookshop in SoHo.
To continue the religious theme, the bookstore is the temple over which Penzler presides. From it (and his love of and encyclopedic knowledge of the genre) grew the Mysterious Press, which publishes detective fiction (including 20th-century American icons such as Donald Westlake, James Ellroy and Ed McBain).
Anyone looking for the perfect holiday gift for a mystery fan need only search for Otto Penzler anthologies online; there is even a collection called, “The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries.” I know, because I own a copy.
Although he mostly lives in New York City, Penzler is also frequently up here at the house in Kent, Conn., that he built in the 1980s (with a giant library that at one point housed 60,000 books — he auctioned most of them off a year ago).
Sadly, when he is up here in Litchfield County, Penzler says he is usually at home, reading manuscripts and sifting through wonderful tales that are worthy of inclusion in an anthology.
So you’re unlikely to fulfill your dream (well, my personal dream) of finding him alone at a coffee shop and plonking down to discuss your favorite mystery tales.
However, a rare opportunity to meet Penzler in person is coming up this weekend when he interviews mystery author Gregory Galloway in a live and Zoom event on Saturday, Nov. 13, at 6 p.m.
Galloway, a resident of Cornwall, Conn., is a relative newcomer to crime fiction, with three novels including the brand new “Just Thieves,” which starts off with the memorable line: “We didn’t know how it happened, but when we woke up there was a dead horse in the street in front of the hotel.” And, as they say, from there you’re off to the races (but no, this is not a racehorse-themed Dick Francis tale).
Galloway’s writing has been described as a combination of George V. Higgins, Patricia Highsmith and David Mamet. I found “Just Thieves” to have a strong feeling of Georges Simenon and especially his Inspector Maigret police procedurals. These are stories that are less about explosions and chase scenes and more about psychology and worldview — told in this novel by the two thieves for whom the book is named.
Does Otto Penzler think Galloway is destined to join the ranks of America’s greatest mystery writers? I guess I’ll find out when I join the Zoom on Saturday.
For those who want to come in person, this will be the final opportunity to spend time in the cozy little boutique that has been home to the House of Books on Main Street in Kent for the past couple years, while extensive renovations were done to the (actual) home of House of Books. The date of the Grand Opening and Big Reveal for the return to 10 North Main in Kent was just announced: It will be Saturday, Nov. 27, just in time for holiday book shopping.
To reserve a space for the in-person conversation between OttoPenzler and Gregory Galloway, or to sign up for the Zoom (and to get details on the return to 10 North Main), go to https://houseofbooksct.com.
