“The best living writer of thrillers”

On the back of my yellowing pocket book of “The Mask of Dimitros” is the following blurb:

‘Eric Ambler is the best living writer of thrillers.’ — News Chonicle

What I’m wondering is, why the qualifier “living”? Did the News Chronicle think there was a better writers of thrillers than Ambler who was no longer alive? I can’t imagine who that could be, considering that Ambler pretty much defined the modern thriller.

5 thoughts on ““The best living writer of thrillers”

  1. They may have been using foresight and assumed that a greater writer of thrillers might yet be born. Alternatively, there may have been rumors of brilliant writers of thrillers in ancient Sumeria whose clay tablets may not have survived, so they were hedging their bets out of respect for the long dead and/or fear of ghosts.

    I tell you, one ghost shouting at you in ancient Sumerian can just ruin your whole day. You have no idea how to pacify the spirit. Much better to be in a Jacob Marley situation.

  2. What about Erskine Childers "Riddle of the Sands?" He would certainly have been dead by then because he was shot during the Irish Civil War.
    But I agree that Ambler is pretty close to perfect.

  3. I suspect that the definition of the term was broader then and included writers such as Poe, Doyle and Collins.

    On a related note, you should also (if you haven't already), check out the film adaptation. It's faithful, effective and it features Lorre and Greenstreet in top form.

  4. Why should it matter if the writer is living or dead? If I want to read a fantasy novel and I never read Lord of the Rings, I should buy that book even though its author is dead. Who cares who the greatest living fantasy writer is?

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