nextsixbooks.Atonetime,hisfirstsevenbooksallrankedamongthetop-tenbest- sellingnovelsinU.S.history.Whilemostcriticssavagedthem,partlybecauseoftheir relatively(forthetime)graphicdepictionsofviolenceandreferencestosex,partly becauseofhisavowedright-wingpatriotism,readerslovedhim,andtheobjectivist philosopherAynRandwrot...
booksarelosersandknowit.ThissenseofutterdespairseemstoappealtotheFrench, whereGoodisisrankedamongthegreatestAmericancrimewriters.Goodishimselfwasa recluse,andhisappraisalofhisownworksuggestsafamiliaritywithdepression.“My firstnovelwaspublishedwhenIwastwenty-two,”hewroteinalettershortlybefore hedied.“Itwasnothing...