As far as mystery novels are concerned, the key to decide the survival of a novel is its idea.

Ultimately there is no test of literary merit except survival. And as far as mystery novels are concerned, the key to decide the survival of a novel is its idea.
Talking of　Ira　Levin, I have read “A Kiss Before Dying” and “Rosemary’s Baby” and this time “The Boys from Brazil” and I am confident that he will have survived in history.
The plot in this novel is complex and yet tidy. War criminals from the Holocaust era have fled into hiding in deep, dark South America. There, with the help of the mad scientist, real life ghoul Josef Mengele, they plot to use the science of cloning to bring back their patriarchal hero. And so begins the truly alarming scheme for the rebirthing of Adolph Hitler.
Even though the plot is confused and hard to read, the idea of seeking to clone Hitler is outstanding.
According to Steven King, "Levin is the Swiss watchmaker of the suspense novel." How true it is! It’s amazing how Levin carefully and methodically turns the screw of