The Praying Mantises

The Praying Mantises
First US edition
AuthorHubert Monteilhet
Original titleLes Mantes religieuses
TranslatorRichard Howard
LanguageFrench
GenreCrime fiction
PublisherSimon & Schuster, Hamish Hamilton
Publication date
1960
Publication placeFrance
Published in English
1962
Media typePrint
AwardsGrand Prix de Littérature Policière
Inner Sanctum Mystery Award

The Praying Mantises (also known as Praying Mantis in the UK) is a psychological suspense novel by Hubert Monteilhet, originally published in French as Les mantes religieuses in 1960. It received the 1960 Grand Prix de Littérature Policière and the 1962 Inner Sanctum Mystery Award.[1]

The novel is notable for its use of epistolary form which is unusual in crime fiction. The story is told entirely through letters, diary entries, reports, newspaper articles, and tape transcripts.

  1. ^ "The Praying Mantises". Kirkus Reviews. 30. 1 June 1962.