--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think every writer of detective fiction…" description: "\"I think every writer of detective fiction writing today has been influenced by Mr. Parker. I'm of a generation that followed Robert Parker, and it was ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ca/robert-crais-9313_been_i-think-every-writer-of-detective-fictio_2054535.jpg" --- # I think every writer of detective fiction writing today… ![“I think every writer of detective fiction writing today has been influenced by Mr. Parker. I'm of a generation that followed Robert Parker, and it was impossible to read the genre and not be influenced by him.” quote by Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ca/robert-crais-9313_been_i-think-every-writer-of-detective-fictio_2054535.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ca/robert-crais-9313_been_i-think-every-writer-of-detective-fictio_2054535.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ca/robert-crais-9313_been_i-think-every-writer-of-detective-fictio_2054535.jpg) > “I think every writer of detective fiction writing today has been influenced by Mr. Parker. I'm of a generation that followed Robert Parker, and it was impossible to read the genre and not be influenced by him.” [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Detective fiction today bears the imprint of Robert Parker's style and themes. **In simple terms:** Modern mystery writers are shaped by Parker. Key Takeaway Recognize Parker's influence in your work. Themes influence genre legacy writing detective fiction Mood reflective analytical Type literary critical When to use this quote - Writing a novel - reading mystery - teaching creative writing Key Concepts Narrative style character archetype plot structure Questions to Reflect On - How does Parker's style affect your storytelling? - Can you innovate beyond his templates? A Different Perspective Parker's influence may limit originality if unexamined. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Detective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/detective/) [Detective fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/detective-fiction/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generation/) [Genre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genre/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Would you care to publish this? Sincerely, Robert B. Parker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-parker/would-you-care-to-publish-this-sincerely-robert-b-parker/) [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) > [There's a lot of people that have influenced Mr. Trump's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-white/there-s-a-lot-of-people-that-have-influenced-mr-trump-s-life/) [Paula White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-white/) > [“Suddenly, Mr. Parker’s shoulders drooped and he gave up, mumbling, “Happy wife, happy life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-kadohata/suddenly-mr-parker-s-shoulders-drooped-and-he-gave-up-mumbling-happy/) [Cynthia Kadohata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-kadohata/) > [“It’s no problem, Mr. Parker.” His cheeks flushed. “Please, call me Charlie. I don’t know that we need to finish the interview.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/staci-hart/it-s-no-problem-mr-parker-his-cheeks-flushed-please-call-me-charlie-i/) [Staci Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/staci-hart/) > [I don't want to dis anybody, but someone like Robert Parker. I first read a Spenser book maybe 20 years ago and then read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/i-don-t-want-to-dis-anybody-but-someone-like-robert-parker-i-first/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [“Now that we can buy anything we want we seem to read detective stories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-savage/now-that-we-can-buy-anything-we-want-we-seem-to-read-detective-stories/) [Elizabeth Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-savage/) > [“I stood there alone in the eerily silent streets of Las Vegas and listened to my penis cry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/i-stood-there-alone-in-the-eerily-silent-streets-of-las-vegas-and/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [“She has carefully audited her life and found she has no requirement for a husband.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-smith/she-has-carefully-audited-her-life-and-found-she-has-no-requirement/) [Helen Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-smith/) > [There simply must be a corpse in a detective novel, and the deader the corpse the better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-s-van-dine/there-simply-must-be-a-corpse-in-a-detective-novel-and-the-deader-the/) [S. S. Van Dine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-s-van-dine/) > [“Al Hickey: It's not about anything. Frank Boggs: Yeah, it's about four hundred grand”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-rock/al-hickey-it-s-not-about-anything-frank-boggs-yeah-it-s-about-four/) Phillip Rock > [Britain can claim to lead the world in murder because it was a country that industrialized early. Other countries, going through the same process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-worsley/britain-can-claim-to-lead-the-world-in-murder-because-it-was-a/) [Lucy Worsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-worsley/) > [“I’m trying to figure the rules. This isn’t yin and yang, it’s more like yin and yank. The past few days I’ve been going,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-castle/i-m-trying-to-figure-the-rules-this-isn-t-yin-and-yang-it-s-more-like/) [Richard Castle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-castle/) > [“His mouth went dry and for a split second he had a metallic taste on the sides of his tongue. He stood, turned, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-woolley/his-mouth-went-dry-and-for-a-split-second-he-had-a-metallic-taste-on/) Hugo Woolley > [I've always had a great fondness for English detective fiction such as Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/i-ve-always-had-a-great-fondness-for-english-detective-fiction-such/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [“A sudden, uncontrollable fury rose in him, and he cast around for something to smash. He snatched the whiskey bottle from the table and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-nesb/a-sudden-uncontrollable-fury-rose-in-him-and-he-cast-around-for/) [Jo Nesbø](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesb/) ## More by Robert Crais > [I really strive to bring something new to each book. I don't want to write the same book over and over again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/i-really-strive-to-bring-something-new-to-each-book-i-don-t-want-to/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) > [Dogs give us something just as we give something to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/dogs-give-us-something-just-as-we-give-something-to-them/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) > [My books come to me in images, and sometimes the image is at the beginning of the book, and sometimes it's simply a flash…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/my-books-come-to-me-in-images-and-sometimes-the-image-is-at-the/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) > [People want you to be ordinary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/people-want-you-to-be-ordinary/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) > [Pike put down the cat. He slid from Pike's arms like molasses and puddled at his feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/pike-put-down-the-cat-he-slid-from-pike-s-arms-like-molasses-and/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) > [“The best dog training was based on the reward system. You did not punish a dog for doing wrong, you rewarded the dog for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/the-best-dog-training-was-based-on-the-reward-system-you-did-not/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) > [I write characters and stories that move me, and I write from the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/i-write-characters-and-stories-that-move-me-and-i-write-from-the-heart/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) > [I love, love writing about Los Angeles. I love exploring every part of it. And I find, rather than a burden, it's actually one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/i-love-love-writing-about-los-angeles-i-love-exploring-every-part-of/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) > [My fiction is almost always inspired by a character's need or desire to rise above him- or herself. No one is perfect and some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/my-fiction-is-almost-always-inspired-by-a-character-s-need-or-desire/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) > [It's easy to sound good. All you do is leave in the parts where you act tough and forget the parts where you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/it-s-easy-to-sound-good-all-you-do-is-leave-in-the-parts-where-you/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) > [My family was all police and hard hats at the refineries; they didn't know what to think about me. So I became a closet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/my-family-was-all-police-and-hard-hats-at-the-refineries-they-didn-t/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) > [When dogs fulfill their roles they are ecstatically happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/when-dogs-fulfill-their-roles-they-are-ecstatically-happy/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) > [I admire people who re-create themselves. And it seems to me that what gives us all the opportunity to be heroic in our own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/i-admire-people-who-re-create-themselves-and-it-seems-to-me-that-what/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) > [Some of us find our way with a single light to guide us; others lose themselves even when the star field is as sharp…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/some-of-us-find-our-way-with-a-single-light-to-guide-us-others-lose/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) > [I was digging for stuff in a used bookstore, and I came upon 'Little Sister.' I fell in love with Chandler that night. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/i-was-digging-for-stuff-in-a-used-bookstore-and-i-came-upon-little/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) [Explore all 71 Robert Crais quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) ## More Been quotes > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [Windmills and solar cells are carbon-free sources of electricity. But they are costly. If you've been investing in those, give it up. That game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-fisher/windmills-and-solar-cells-are-carbon-free-sources-of-electricity-but/) [Kenneth Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-fisher/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I've always been a believer in research. It's great to have an instinctual human reaction to a character, too, of course, but it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-ve-always-been-a-believer-in-research-it-s-great-to-have-an/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) Browse all 13,699 Been quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think every writer of detective fiction writing today has been influenced by Mr. Parker. I'm of a generation that followed Robert Parker, and it was impossible to read the genre and not be influenced by him.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Crais" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/i-think-every-writer-of-detective-fiction-writing-today-has-been/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Been" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/i-think-every-writer-of-detective-fiction-writing-today-has-been/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ca/robert-crais-9313_been_i-think-every-writer-of-detective-fictio_2054535.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ca/robert-crais-9313_been_i-think-every-writer-of-detective-fictio_2054535.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ca/robert-crais-9313_been_i-think-every-writer-of-detective-fictio_2054535.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think every writer of detective fiction writing today has been influenced by Mr. Parker. I'm of a…” — Robert Crais", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Robert Crais", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think every writer of detective...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/i-think-every-writer-of-detective-fiction-writing-today-has-been/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/i-think-every-writer-of-detective-fiction-writing-today-has-been/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```