Show Director Spends Three Years in Reading Mysteries HOLLYWOOD United Press Press Press- Among his lesser claims to distinction ti tion n. n S. S S. S Van Dine prominent author author author au au- au- au thor of detective fiction lists that he has read crime stories Van Dine says he read the entire list in the last five years beginning at the time of his convalescence af after after after af- af ter a breakdown from overwork His first detective novel The Benson Denson Murder Case appeared only three years ago The Tile Canary the Greene and the Bishop murder case stories followed and he now is outlining a fifth to b be called The Scarab Murder Case I r think it is safo sato to say that T J have read more detective novels and have made a closer and more careful careful care care- ful study of them from technical and literary standpoints than any other man living Van Dine said This after all is no credit to tome tome tome me for I was effectively barred by my ph physician from doing anything calling for mental strain No lit literary literary lit lit- crary man In lii his Ills right mind and under ordinary conditions is going to take three years from his life to study detective fiction |