In an unprecedented move, the Mystery Writers of America has issued a new guideline for any future works nominated for the group's prestigious Edgar Awards. In a brief statement yesterday, the MWA announced that in response to the habitual, and perhaps even increasing, presence of a particular cliché, the following ban has been added to the organization's rules for Edgar-nominated books, short stories, TV shows and movies: "No private detective, police officer, secret service agent or other member of the fictional law enforcement community is permitted to dismiss the comments of a fictional civilian by saying, 'I think you've been reading too many mystery novels.' " --Robert Gray
