Bruce Alexander Cook, a journalist and author, died on Nov. 9 from a stroke. He was 71.
Cook received a degree in literature from Loyola University in Chicago, then served as an interpreter for the U.S. Army in Frankfurt, Germany. He began his writing career freelancing for the National Catholic Reporter and the National Observer, and editing for Newsweek, the Detroit News and USA Today.
In 1978, Cook published his first novel, a mainstream fiction title called "Sex Life." But he truly found his niche in the mystery genre when he created the fictional Latino detective Antonio "Chico" Cervantes. In its four-book series, the Southern California P.I. solved crimes both north and south of the Mexican border.
Writing as Bruce Alexander, Cook published a series of popular historical novels featuring Sir John Fielding, a blind, 18th century sleuth. The books were based on the real Fielding, a blind British magistrate who co-founded the Bow Street Runners, London's first police force.
"I may not be the world's cleverest writer, but I knew a great character when he leaped off the pages at me," Cook once said.
The 10th Fielding novel, "The Price of Murder," was published this year. Cook's final book, a first-person manuscript tentatively titled "Qualms of Conscience: The Confessions of William Shakespeare," will eventually be published by St. Martin's Press.
Posted on November 21, 2003 2:37 AMI will certainly miss Bruce Alexander. He has given me many hours of pleasure with his Sir John fielding mystery series. May God bless his family during this time of loss.
Sincerely,
Marion Ruben
Richmond Hill, GA 31324