Author and historian Barry T. Zeman remembers MWA Grand Master Dorothy Salisbury Davis, who died in 2014.
As we start the new year, it is fitting to remember that we lost, among other beloved members, one of the most important mystery writers and MWA icons of the last 60 years. MWA Grand Master Dorothy Salisbury Davis passed away in August. At 98, she was the oldest living member of MWA, having become a member in 1951, just six years after the organization was founded.
Dorothy worked tirelessly for many years as a leader within MWA—as national president, EVP, a member of the board of directors, chair of the Edgar Awards Dinner, and more. Feeling that woman writers were not being recognized as they should, she also helped found Sisters in Crime.
As MWA’s memory bank for most of the last 30 years, Dorothy knew the details behind the issues, ideas, and controversies. While researching the history of MWA in the 1990s, my wife Angela and I tried to find the origin of the Best Mystery Award. Dorothy was the only one who knew the inside story. In the early years of the Edgar Awards there was no award for this category because, she recalled, “There was a long ongoing fight within MWA about giving a Best Mystery Award. It was believed that you could not, or should not, choose one book for such a distinction.” However, in 1953 the Award Committee decided to award Charlotte Jay MWA’s first Best Novel Award for Beat Not the Bones, and the custom has continued.
Admired universally for her writing, Dorothy’s third novel, the groundbreaking A Gentle Murderer, was chosen to be included in the Haycraft-Queen Cornerstones of Crime as one the 125 best mysteries ever written. In 1985, she received the highest accolade awarded in the mystery field: MWA Grand Master for her body of work. In 1989, she also earned the Lifetime Achievement Award at Bouchercon. In 1994, Malice Domestic named her their Guest of Honor.
Her novels were not violent, nor were they cozy, but more of mysteries of manner embodying psychological suspense exploring motivations and the morality of her protagonists. Her long-time friend Sara Paretsky said she was “a deep explorer of the dark side of the human mind, but a side that we all have.” Dorothy’s novels were mostly standalones, but she did have one popular series character, Julie Hayes. Her New York Times obituary noted that Anatole Broyard, after reviewing her first Hayes book, A Death in the Life, wrote, “Mrs. Davis is one of that disappearing breed of novelists who still believes in likable women.”
Dorothy wrote 20 novels and more than 30 short stories. Her last story, “Emily,” was written by special request for the 2009 Special MWA anthology in honor of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Edgar Allan Poe, the patron saint of MWA. Her work garnered four Edgar® nominations for Best Novel and two for Best Short Story.
Her domestic life brought her great happiness. She was married to the late actor, Harry Davis. Angela and I had many wonderful times with Dorothy and Harry, but most enjoyable was listening to the story of their first meeting in Chicago in 1946. Harry worked then as stage manager for a production of Tennessee Williams’ A Glass Menagerie. At that time, Dorothy had a job in public relations for a local company and often took advantage of the opportunity to attend theater productions. She saw the Williams play a few times. Harry noticed her and, smitten, asked her for a date. It soon led to a relationship. Unsure at first, Dorothy finally consented to marry Harry. As an actor, Harry could tell an unending supply of stories about his time in the theater and movies. He also portrayed a variety of characters in commercials (he won a national award for a continuing role as a butcher).
Angela loved his stories and often asked him to elaborate. Since he was playing to an appreciative audience, Harry would really get into it, whereupon Dorothy whispered to her, “Stop encouraging him!” Dorothy had heard it all too many times. She and Harry had a wonderful relationship. Dorothy was patient, tolerant, and firm when required, just what any actor needs in a partner.
In the 1980s, I attended MWA board meetings, and Dorothy, Tom and Louise Chastain, Mary Higgins Clark, and I would often go out to dinner afterward. We had great times gabbing about MWA matters, family, friends, and the state of the world, but when they talked writing, I was grateful and blessed to just listen.
Our memories of Dorothy are tender and sweet. She was not only a gifted writer, but a great person, and generous with her friendship. Those who had the good fortune to call her a friend or colleague will tell you the same.
—Barry T. Zeman
Barry T. Zeman has been a member of MWA since the 1970s and has served as EVP for two terms, New York Chapter president for three terms, on the National Board for 12, national treasurer chair and member of the Edgar Committee, and MWA’s archivist and librarian for 25. Zeman was nominated for an Agatha. His last book, Those Magnificent Seasons, co-written with Art Shamsky, is available in a Kindle edition.