GENRE STUDIES UNIT-IV Detective Novel

 

Detective Novel

            A genre of fiction in which an investigator or a detective investigates a crime is known as Detective novel. Detective novel most of the time involves or solves murder cases.

Origin

            The detective genre began in the mid-nineteenth century. The first modern detective story is written by Edgar Allan poe’s “The Murder in the Rue Morgue”, a short story published in 1841. 

Famous Characters

            Some of the famous characters of detective novels are Auguste Dupin, Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, and Misss Marple.

Famous Detective Novelist

            Some of the famous novelists of detective fiction are Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle, Keigo Higashino and Wilkie Collins.

Characteristics

v  A final twist in the plot.

v  House Robbery or murder.

v  There will be a presence of skilled and professional investigator.

v  Red Herrings

v  Detective inquiries.

v  Large number of false suspects.

v  A reconstruction of the crime.

Elements

v  Perfect crime scene.

v  Wrongly accused suspect at who circumstantial evidence points.

v  High observation and superior mind of the detective.

v  A rational and intelligent detective.

v  Unexpected conclusion in the end.

Types

v  Historical Mystery

v  Serial killer Mystery

v  Legal thriller

v  Locked room mystery.

Examples

v  The Moon stone by Wilkie Collins

v  The mystery of a Hansom Cab by Fergus Hume

v  The hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Canon Doyle

v  The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie