Crime fiction is all about solving crimes and the crime is
usually a murder case but it can also be a white collar crime or a computer
crime. The plot always reflects the culture and the values of the time when it
was written. For example in the 1600 the stories written were mainly about
witch crimes, but now days they are usually about white collar crimes and
murders. The crime fiction genre reached its peak of popularity in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. Many famous authors such as Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie and Edgar Allan Poe are known for their work in the crime fiction genre. One of the earliest known crime novels is “The Rector of Veilbye” by Danish author Steen Steensen Blicher, which was published in 1829.
Although there were many stories written before Blicher’s novel it was one of the first
novels written just as the crime fiction started to become more popular.
usually a murder case but it can also be a white collar crime or a computer
crime. The plot always reflects the culture and the values of the time when it
was written. For example in the 1600 the stories written were mainly about
witch crimes, but now days they are usually about white collar crimes and
murders. The crime fiction genre reached its peak of popularity in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. Many famous authors such as Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie and Edgar Allan Poe are known for their work in the crime fiction genre. One of the earliest known crime novels is “The Rector of Veilbye” by Danish author Steen Steensen Blicher, which was published in 1829.
Although there were many stories written before Blicher’s novel it was one of the first
novels written just as the crime fiction started to become more popular.
The Rector of Veilbye is one of the oldest known crime novels and it is not very
popular. Stories like “The Murder in the Rue Morgue” by Edgar Allan Poe (1842)
and the Sherlock Holmes mysteries by Arthur Conan Doyle are more widely known.
These stories and others like them have helped contribute to the huge popularity
of the crime fiction genre. “Monsieur Lecoq” (1868) by French author Émile Gaboriau is said to have set the template or the outline for scientifically minded detectives. This meant that
the detective who is investigating the case (in this instance it was a younger colleague of the main detective) is thinking logically. The detective is not just seeing what is there, he is digging for clues and gathering all the evidence he can, to help find the criminal.
In Monsieur Lecoq the main detective (Gévrol) believes the case is nothing but a pub
brawl that ended up with murder but after Monsieur Lecoq takes the investigation further we find out that there is more to the story than what meets the eye.
Edgar Allan Poe is often considered the “Godfather” of early crime fiction. Poe was one of the first authors to shift the focus of crime fiction stories to more of an “intellectual reality”. Meaning once again his investigator was thinking more logically. Edgar Allan Poe’s detective character from novels such as “The Purloined Letter” was known for his thorough
observation, poor view of the police, and he was extremely logical.
popular. Stories like “The Murder in the Rue Morgue” by Edgar Allan Poe (1842)
and the Sherlock Holmes mysteries by Arthur Conan Doyle are more widely known.
These stories and others like them have helped contribute to the huge popularity
of the crime fiction genre. “Monsieur Lecoq” (1868) by French author Émile Gaboriau is said to have set the template or the outline for scientifically minded detectives. This meant that
the detective who is investigating the case (in this instance it was a younger colleague of the main detective) is thinking logically. The detective is not just seeing what is there, he is digging for clues and gathering all the evidence he can, to help find the criminal.
In Monsieur Lecoq the main detective (Gévrol) believes the case is nothing but a pub
brawl that ended up with murder but after Monsieur Lecoq takes the investigation further we find out that there is more to the story than what meets the eye.
Edgar Allan Poe is often considered the “Godfather” of early crime fiction. Poe was one of the first authors to shift the focus of crime fiction stories to more of an “intellectual reality”. Meaning once again his investigator was thinking more logically. Edgar Allan Poe’s detective character from novels such as “The Purloined Letter” was known for his thorough
observation, poor view of the police, and he was extremely logical.
“Locked Room” mysteries were one of the biggest moments in the crime fiction genre history. In Locked Room Mysteries the crime is pretty much always a murder and it happens under almost impossible conditions. The crime scene is usually one where an intruder could not have possibly entered nor left. This is where the name “Locked Room” comes from. Locked Room stories follow most other conventions of the crime genre and it encourages the reader to solve the crime before the end of the novel. The first impression of the crime is always that the culprit simply vanished; this pushes the inspector to dig beneath the surface
and find an answer. Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Murder in the Rue Morgue” is one of the most well-known “Locked Room” crime novels.
and find an answer. Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Murder in the Rue Morgue” is one of the most well-known “Locked Room” crime novels.
Middle ages – Crimes often included; premarital sex or child out of marriage
1600 – Crimes often involved witches or spies for witches. Lots of supernatural crimes, at the time people very much feared witches and all things supernatural. 1700-1899 – “Locked Room” crimes and scientifically minded detectives were very popular. Logic played a much bigger role and red herrings (misleading information or clues) were very popular. Edgar Allan Poe and Arthur Conan Doyle novels were quite popular during this time. 1900-1920 – FBI and special agents were often involved, finger printing DNA were also just coming in. Red Herrings were still popular. 1920-1939 “Golden Age” – In England most novels were quite puzzling and there was a lot of social chaos. In America crime novels were often written about gangsters. In both England and America there were more firearms and technology than in the past. This technology was presented in these novels to help detectives solve the case. 1940’s – DNA played a bigger role in investigation for police. Red herrings were also still popular. 1950’s - Espionage became more popular, as did suspense. There was also often a love story as well as a crime. Lie detectors and other technology were now used. Crime was often organised instead of just a murderer doing it as a spur of the moment type thing, the crime was properly planned out and could involve two or more people. 1960’s – Feminism was just starting to play a bigger role in society ,so often the female characters played more of a main role. The female characters could also be more intelligent than in the past. Sometimes the women would be classified of a “higher status” than the men e.g. head investigator in the case being female. There was also a lot of drug use at the time. |
1970’s – This period a “quiet” time for crime novels. Novels were written either like the 1960’s style or some started early for the 1980’s period.
1980’s “Second Golden Age” – Cozy crime (usually involved an amateur detective, an isolated setting and red herrings) and white collar crimes (motivated by financial means, non-violent crime) became popular. Crime series (sequences of related crime stories) become huge. Detectives and personal or private investigators are highly trained. Drug trafficking also became popular. 1990-2000’s – Terrorism novels became more popular after 9-11. Computer fraud became bigger with all the developing technology. Historical crimes also became more popular. Technology was a lot more advanced giving police and detective’s easier ways to find their culprit. But the new technology also made it easier for criminals to commit different computer crimes e.g. hacking. Crime- Scene Investigation was much more advanced (e.g. detailed photographs, DNA and fingerprinting). Red Herrings are still very popular. Red Herrings have remained popular because they have been used to keep the reader entertained and to keep them guessing. Conspiracy (a secret plan by a group of people to do something harmful or damaging) was also big throughout the 1990’s and the 2000’s as it also helped add detail to the story and keep the reader entertained. |
The Crime genre has remained popular for centuries because it keeps the reader interested and has them on the edge of
their seat until the very last page. Readers keep coming back for more so they can relive the exhilaration and excitement of a crime novel.
Written By Alana Sauer
their seat until the very last page. Readers keep coming back for more so they can relive the exhilaration and excitement of a crime novel.
Written By Alana Sauer