William Campbell Gault died at the age of 85, just as the final editing of his short story An Ordinary Man’ was completed. Mr Gault has published 65 novels and received most major mystery writer awards, including the Edgar. The Gault story is the lead piece of fiction in the current issue of New Mystery magazine, and serves as the last fine effort of a master of mystery and crime fiction novels and short stories. This simple tale of an ordinary man who is pulled into an assasination plot by a local reform league roils themes of contemporary, uniquely American, controversies.
"This is Mr Gault’s RED HARVEST," said a current senior editor at NMM, "A kinder, gentler version of small town anarchy in the tradition of that Dashiell Hammett novel."
The editorial in this issue, written before any news of Mr Gault’s death, reads: "If there is a sanghaa, an Olympus, a sistine garden, where the masters of noire stroll among the scarlet belladona and black orchids, surely one of the empressarios there would be William Campbell Gault. Very few voices in the post-War era have given so much elegant form, unique styling and meticulous standards to American writing..." Mr Gault was a founding contributor of the magazine, appearing regularly since 1990. (Kerman Kill in I#3 and The Sister in II#2).
Mr Gault’s last short story centerpieces the Angry White Men special issue of New Mystery Magazine, the World’s Best Mystery/Crime/Suspense Stories and Reviews. The colorful magazine features a knock-out cover by comic artist R Crumb. The issue, IV#1, hits newsstands in March. The full text and illustrations also appear at the same time on the New Mystery website,
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Also this issue, there is a hardboiled story set in Brazil featuring hoodlums and class vengeance by George Pelecanos. Carioca Hungry is subtitled: Brazilian streetkids hear the drums and smell the roasting chicken.
A new author is baptized with a detective story about a fashion slave and mall bimbo who wants to make it in the movies. New Mystery presents Mrs Elizabeth Sereni in her debut, Mall Bimbo Murder. Also, this issue, find the first detective story ever. Written by Daniel, this is an apochryphal yarn called Temple of Bel.
Also find the sharpest reviews of new mystery novels, CD’s, New Media and film plus many mystery ads and lists and news and views of the mystery world. Membership is $27.77 a year. Includes code for web site, www.mysterynew.com and surprises.
New Mystery Magazine, 101 West 23rd St Ph#1, New York, NY 10011 212/353-3495 Special $20 for one year.