‘I’ IS FOR IRRITATED

As a big fan of Sue Grafton, it was nice to see her latest (“ ‘I’ Is for Innocent”) get both recognition and a good review in your May 10 issue. But what is this nonsense about the mystery field being “so overrun with women private eyes one can only marvel at the ingenuity of the authors and the tolerance of readers that keep them all gainfully employed”?

I don’t ever recall hearing the field was overrun by men before Grafton, Marcia Muller and Sara Peretsky started adding women to the genre. And as one who enjoys a good mystery regardless of the protagonist’s sex, I hardly consider myself tolerant to embrace this new wave of female PIs.

Though reviewer Dick Lochte goes on to wave the flag for equal rights in sleuthing, his earlier remark smacks of patronism. I guess we haven’t come such a long way, after all.

JOYCE WISWELL

SANTA BARBARA