Who's the best?

The Crime Writers’ Association recently polled its members and produced this list of the “best ever” crime fiction authors:

WINNER: Agatha Christie
Raymond Chandler
Arthur Conan Doyle
Reginald Hill
Dashiell Hammett
Dorothy L Sayers
Elmore Leonard
Georges Simenon
PD James
Ruth Rendell

(See lists of other categories here.)  

While no one can discount the talent of these authors – and certainly Christie and Doyle have been among the most influential crime writers of all time – readers and authors in North America might find the list a bit lacking in diversity. We thought we’d give PDD readers a chance to vote for their own “best” choices among U.S. and Canadian authors, and we’re dividing them into two categories, past and current. But these are only suggestions. Because we’re doing this the American way, you’re free to declare “None of the above” and add another name.

Best North American crime fiction writer of the past:

James Cain
John Dickson Carr
Raymond Chandler
Mignon Eberhart
Erle Stanley Gardner
Dashiell Hammett
Patricia Highsmith
Ross MacDonald
Ellery Queen
Rex Stout
Cornell Woolrich
Write in:

Best North American crime fiction writer currently publishing:

James Lee Burke
Mary Higgins Clark
Patricia Cornwell
Tess Gerritsen
Sue Grafton
Dennis Lehane
Elmore Leonard
Walter Mosley
Sara Paretsky
George Pelecanos
Louise Penny
Nancy Pickard
Write in:

Okay, let’s see your votes in the comments!