Otto Penzler

Otto Penzler is a renowned author, editor, and proprietor of "The Mysterious Bookshop" in New York City. He is considered the foremost authority on suspense, mystery, and crime fiction, with a particular fascination for detective novels. Penzler was born in Hamburg, Germany, in 1942 to Otto Penzler, a chemist, and his wife Jeanette, a secretary. His passion for mystery and detective stories led him to establish a successful career in the genre.

Penzler is the founder of two publishing houses that specialize in mystery and suspense works. He has also won numerous awards for his contributions to the genre, including two Edgar Awards for "The Lineup" in 2010 and the "Encyclopedia of Mystery and Detection." He is also the recipient of the 1994 Ellery Queen Award from the Mystery Writers of America.

In addition to his writing and publishing endeavors, Penzler is the proprietor of "The Mysterious Bookshop" in New York City, which is considered one of the most respected and oldest mystery bookstores in the United States. He is also a prolific editor and has been responsible for several anthologies over the years.

Penzler's influence in the mystery genre is unparalleled, and he has been instrumental in promoting and preserving the genre's rich history and literature. He has won two Edgar Awards, for "The Encyclopedia of Mystery and Detection" in 1977 and "The Lineup" in 2010. The Mystery Writers of America awarded him the prestigious Ellery Queen Award in 1994 and the Raven--the group's highest non-writing award--in 2003.