RIP to Hamilton, Dibdin

The mystery community was saddened by the news that Donald Hamilton, creator of the Matt Helm novels, died in his birthplace of Sweden last November – though the news only got out in early April.

Now comes more news of death, this even more surprising:

British author Michael Dibdin, known for his Italian detective Aurelio Zen, has died aged 60, his publisher says.

The Wolverhampton-born novelist published his first book, The Last Sherlock Holmes Story, in 1978.

His first Zen novel, Ratking, was inspired by four years
spent teaching English in Italy. It won the Gold Dagger award for crime
fiction in 1988.

He is survived by third wife, Katherine Beck, a daughter from each of his first two marriages and three stepchildren.

The Telegraph has much more in a lengthy obituary. I’ve not much more to add except that this is a huge blow to the crime fiction world and to literature at large.