R.I.P.

First it was Ed McBain, then Dick Francis, and now I learn of the death of Peter O'Donnell who wrote all those wonderful Modesty Blaise books. Perhaps it's a generational thing, but today's thrillers just don't seem to have the class and style that these writers in particular were able to produce time after time. It was always such a delight to pick up a new 87th Precinct book, or the latest Dick Francis or a new Modesty Blaise - but now all that is past. Sic transit...