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Dorothy Uhnak

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Author

The Resume

    (April 24, 1930-July 8, 2006)
    Born in New York, New York
    New York Transit Authority policewoman turned author
    Works included the novels 'Law and Order,' (1973) 'The Investigation,' (1977) 'False Witness,' (1981) 'Victims,' (1986) 'The Ryer Avenue Story,' (1993) 'Codes of Betrayal,' (1997) and the autobiographical, 'Policewoman' (1964)
    Received the 1969 Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best First Novel for 'The Bait' (1968)

Why she might be annoying:

    'The Bait' and its two sequels, 'The Witness' (1969) and 'The Ledger' (1970), inspired the dumb TV series 'Get Christie Love.'
    Other than her one Edgar, she never won a major award for her writing.
    The critics liked her.
    She is almost completely forgotten today.
    She ripped off the Alice Crimmins and Kitty Genovese murders for the plots of two of her books.
    She didn't write short stories.

Why she might not be annoying:

    She spent 14 years as a policewoman, 12 as a detective and quit not to write but to finish her college education.
    She received two awards for bravery as a police officer.
    After winning $125 on a TV game show, she gave the money to the impoverished wife of a man whom she had arrested for assaulting her.
    She incorporated real people, places, and events from her native New York into her books.
    'Law and Order' was not the basis of the TV series but rather a very good made for TV movie in the seventies starring Darren McGavin.
    She suffered from physical pain and depression in her final years, leading her to commit suicide.

Credit: tom_jeffords


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 7 Votes: 85.71% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 13 Votes: 76.92% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 12 Votes: 58.33% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 128 Votes: 67.97% Annoying