The Hidden Assassins

by: Robert Wilson

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Bruce Alexander

Bruce Alexander is the pseudonym of Bruce Cook, born in Chicago. He died recently in 2003, but was married to a violinist, Judith Aller, and their final home was in sight of the 'Hollywood' sign in LA, California.

After finishing studies in English literature, Bruce Cook spent army years (World War II) as a translator in Germany. Returning home to the USA, he was a literary and movie critic for a number of national newspapers and magazines. Bruce Cook then created his Chico Cervantes series, with an ethnic detective exploring crime from the Hollywood Hills to Culiacan, Mexico.

Bruce Alexander now has at least ten Sir John Fielding novels to his credit, and for these books Mr. Alexander is most likely best known. Written after Cervantes fictional exploits, the Sir John Fielding books portray an actual historical magistrate or judge in eighteenth century London, a half-brother of Henry Fielding (of Tom Jones fame) and blind. Sir John's lack of sight makes him a remarkable individual.

Very few writers have succeeded in portrayal of that period as well as Bruce Alexander. To assist Sir John, he's given a young assistant, Jeremy Proctor, and Mr. Alexander's vivid restoration of 1700's London with Jeremy doing the footwork and Sir John doing the actual solving of murders places Bruce Alexander/Cook among the top exponents of the period, along with Dickens. Mr. Alexander/Cook's writing will be sorely missed.

Bruce Alexander also had several hideaways where he wrote, including one in England and one in a corner of Normandy, beside the Paris apartment where he wrote his third Sir John Fielding novel 'Watery Grave'. Mr. Alexander/Cook was a truly great mystery writer whose work was translated into nine languages. Both his Cervantes and Fielding books may sometime appear soon on the big screen.

Murder Mystery Reviews

Books by this author we have reviewed:

The Price of Murder

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