Davis, Dorothy Salisbury

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DAVIS, Dorothy Salisbury

Born 26 April 1916, Chicago, Illinois

Daughter of Alfred J. and Margaret Greer Salisbury; married Harry Davis, 1946

Dorothy Salisbury Davis is a writer of mysteries and crime fiction, adept at both novels and short stories. She is known for her interest in the psychological forces behind criminal activity, for her avoidance of violence, and for her sympathetic treatment of her villains as well as her protagonists.

Davis was born in 1916 and grew up in Chicago. After graduating in 1938 from Barat College in Lake Forest, Illinois, she took a position as a writer for Swift & Company, later becoming a research librarian and editor at the Merchandiser. Her first novel, The Judas Cat, was published in 1949 by Scribner's—which remained her publisher throughout her career—and was followed by The Clay Hand in 1950. Her third book, A Gentle Murderer (1951), a suspenseful story of a killer and the priest who tries to find him, is the book that established Davis' reputation.

Unlike many writers in the mystery genre who create central protagonists appearing in novel after novel, Davis has created few recurring characters. Those who come back are featured in just a few books. They include Mrs. Norris, who stars in Death of an Old Sinner (1957), A Gentleman Called (1958), and Old Sinners Never Die (1959); Jasper Tully, who appears with Mrs. Norris in the first two of those stories; and Detective Marks, who is featured in The Pale Betrayer (1965), among others. Her best-known character is probably her most recent, Julie Hayes, the central figure in A Death in the Life (1976), Scarlet Night (1980), Lullaby of Murder (1984), and The Habit of Fear (1987). All of Davis' protagonists are recognized as much for their eccentric personalities as for their sharp minds.

Davis cowrote God Speed the Night with Jerome Ross (1968) and has edited collections of mysteries, including A Choice of Murders (1958) and Crime Without Murder (1970). The latter was inspired by her belief that a good mystery did not have to feature graphic violence (although some of Davis' books do contain violent elements). Davis has also written several mainstream novels, though they weren't as popular as her mysteries.

Applauded for her talent as a writer of short stories as well as novels, Davis is particularly fond of psychological studies, some of which were included in her Tales for a Stormy Night: Collected Crime Stories (1984). She has contributed to anthologies including Mirror, Mirror, Fatal Mirror, edited by Hans Santesson (1973), When Last Seen, edited by Arthur Maling (1977), and Mistletoe Mysteries, edited by Charlotte MacLeod (1989). She has also had her stories published in periodicals ranging from Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine to Modern Maturity. In addition, Davis is a member of the Adams Round Table, a group of mystery writers who gather for monthly dinners and have produced several mystery collection, including Missing in Manhattan (1992) and Justice in Manhattan (1994), to which Davis has contributed.

Known for her fascination with the workings of the criminal mind and with the circumstances or character flaws that can turn a person to crime, Davis creates a range of well-defined characters who participate in complicated plots and often face religious crises as the plot heads toward its resolution. As noted in Publishers Weekly, "Two themes have recurred in the Davis mysteries, sometimes as minor counterpoints, sometimes as major elements in the plot: Roman Catholicism and psychotherapy." Another common thread in her books and stories—whether they take place in the U.S. or Europe, are set in big cities or small towns or feature male or female detectives—is the similarity between the villain and the protagonist, with the two often coming to an understanding of one another before the dénouement. Among the books dealing with this ambiguity include Death of an Old Sinner (one of Davis' best-loved books), The Pale Betrayer, Enemy and Brother (1966), and Where the Dark Streets Go (1969, filmed for CBS as Broken Vows, 1986).

A founding director of Sisters in Crime, Davis was president of the Mystery Writers of America (MWA) from 1955-56 and its executive vice president from 1977-78. She won the Grandmaster award for lifetime achievement from MWA in 1989 and has been nominated for seven Edgar awards, four times for her novels and three times for short stories, demonstrating her facility in both forms.

Other Works:

A Town of Masks (1952) The Evening of the Good Samaritan (1961) Black Sheep, White Lamb (1963) Men of No Property (1965). Shock Wave (1972) The Little Brothers (1973)