Michael Dibdin: The Zen of mystery writers

This morning, sitting in a too-cold hotel room, I was hit with one of those uncomfortable assaults of reality that seem to lurk in the shadows, waiting to pounce when you least suspect it.

I had just discovered the newest book by one of my favorite authors. Walking amid high shelves of books, I happened to look up and see a copy of “End Games,” the latest – and looks to be last – in Michael Dibdin’s Aurelio Zen mystery series.

I’ve loved Dibdin’s Zen novels since I discovered the first one, “Ratking,” while in vacation in Italy. Dibdin, a Brit, had created the character of Zen, a Venetian-born Italian cop who traveled from region to region, investigating crimes in his quintessential Italian manner.

I was surprised to find that Dibdin had married the Seattle writer K.K. Beck and actually lived in Seattle. After working through his publisher, I phoned Dibdin and interviewed him five or so years ago. The experience was more a conversation between people who, given the right circumstances, could be friends rather than a professional encounter.

But even though Dibdin invited me to meet him the next time I traveled to Seattle, I didn’t take him up on the offer. I’m sorry now that I didn’t.

Because after picking up the novel this morning, I read the book jacket and came across this passage: “Michael Dibdin is the author of 17 previous novels, including ‘And The You Die,’ ‘Back to Bologna,’ ‘Blood Rain,’ and ‘A Long Finish.’ A native of England, he lived in Seattle, Washington, at the time of his death in 2007.”

Michael Dibdin, dead at age 60. I myself just turned that same age.

Something tells me that I am going to read “End Games” with more than a bit of passing interest. And that I may do so holding a tissue in my free hand.