As I noted on Sunday, after a tight quarterfinal/Elite Eight round, the four semifinalists in the 'World's Favourite Detective' tournament being run by Jen Forbus of Jen's Book Thoughts were announced: Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch; Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes; Raymond Chandler's Phillip Marlowe; and Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot.Voting is now open for the semifinal round, which sees Bosch vs Holmes and Marlowe vs Poirot. Two US hardboiled-style detectives vs two British detectives from the classic tradition. It will certainly be a very intriguing week of voting. Will the fact that the competition is on a US-based blog help Chander's Marlowe overcome Christie's Poirot, in what might otherwise be a coin-toss decision re: historical importance? It's going to be fascinating.
Personally, I think Bosch vs Holmes would have been the best final, offering the most contrasts etc in terms of historic importance - US vs UK, turn of the 21st century vs turn of the 20th, hardboiled style vs classical style, Los Angeles vs London, etc. Unfortunately that's not an option - the various potential finals offer some of those contrasts, but not quite to the same degree.
You can join the 700-900 others from around the world that have been voting each week, by making your choices here. My gut says a Bosch vs Marlowe final (although that's not what I voted for), with Bosch winning overall. But we'll see...
Interesting prediction Craig - I'm thinking the exact opposite - Holmes and Poirot will duke it out in the final with Poirot narrowly winning (though that's not what I voted for either)
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