History of Detective Fiction

Pat here:

As we all know, my Malcolm/Ives families started out in historical romance, took a wicked right turn at the Victorian Age, and crossed over into the contemporary market. With my new Psychic Solutions  series, they took another zig-zag and ended up in mystery. I’ve done romantic suspense, so it isn’t a total departure. But romance is where my heart and soul have been for so long, that I can’t quite let it go. So, of course, romance wraps its way around the mystery because it makes me feel good.

And I miss my historical research. I probably should have missed it enough to dig into the roots of detective fiction so I had a clue of what genre I was actually writing, but my characters are gonna do what they’re gonna do. So I probably saved myself a step.

Since we’re all book readers here, I figure I can use the research to give you a down-and-dirty view of the development of our 21st mystery genres.

While some sources believe One Thousand and One Nights was the first detective story, (I disagree) most of the sources conclude that the modern mystery genre dates to Edgar Allan Poe’s 1841 locked-room short story, The Murders in the Rue Morgue, with the world’s first fictional amateur detective, C. August Dupin. Note, beyond London’s Bow Street Runners, professional detectives didn’t have a major place in society yet (the American Pinkerton Agency didn’t come along until 1850), so Poe wasn’t exactly a bestseller, and even though the story has been rewritten and filmed well into the 20^th century, no massive copycat genre ensued at the time.

It wasn’t until almost twenty years later, as urban centers and police forces developed, that Wilkie Collins published The Woman in White (1859), which is considered the first mystery novel, and The Moonstone (1868), generally considered the first detective novel. (There is some dispute that The Notting Hill Mystery, published in 1865 under the pen name Charles Felix, was the first, but it didn’t have the immense acceptance of Collins.) These books were so popular that they can probably be called the stimulus for the genre.

I will note—a French writer, Émile Gaboriau, also began writing detective novels in this period. The first one included a romance: L’Affaire Lerouge (1866). I can’t comment on what I haven’t read, except to say our romantic mystery stories are not new., and mystery fiction was international, popping up in many countries.

The late Victorian era saw a prolific growth in detective stories. Despite their lowly status in society, women didn’t stand in the shadow of Collins. American Seeley Regester, a nom de plume for author Metta Victoria Fuller Victor,  published The Dead Letter, a full- length work of crime fiction in Beadle’s Monthly Magazine in 1866 (of which she was editor). She went on to write more than 100 dime novels (and probably is the basis for a lot of historical romance novels about women dime novelists, although her life seemed quite boring). Anna Katherine Green followed in 1878 by writing the first American detective and bestseller, The Leavenworth Case

My sources conclude that Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, published in 1886 and sold as a ‘penny dreadful’ in the UK and US, is the first classic mystery (a detective, a criminal, a victim). I’d call it a thriller since Hyde was a chemically enhanced monster, but genre rules hadn’t been established.

And then Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes hit the market with A Study in Scarlet in 1887 (he was only 27 when he wrote the first story), nailing detective stories as a mainstay in the fiction market. By this time, cities had real detectives, including Scotland Yard, which Holmes plays against much as modern sleuths do local police today.  Instead of suspects, the Doyle plots focused on clues, red herrings, and plot twists.

The popularity of these mystery novels during this time period wasn’t precisely coincidental. There was a huge explosion in “mass media” which included dozens of magazines that serialized fiction. We all know that addiction!

While both have a puzzle to be solved, mystery and detective fiction are theoretically considered two different genres (so, fine, I am now combining more genres than we can count). Detective stories focus on the detective and how the crime was solved (ie: the brilliant Sherlock Holmes and his deductions). Mystery stories are about amateur sleuths (ie: Agatha Christie's Miss Marple and her intuition). Mysteries concentrate on the suspects and how the crime was committed, not necessarily how it’s solved. That’s a fine hair to pick.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was still writing his Sherlock Holmes detective stories well into the early 20^th century. In 1908, Mary Roberts Rinehart (I should take on a third name if I get into this mystery business—three names sound so authoritative) published The Circular Staircase, a classic amateur sleuth mystery. I can remember gobbling up Rinehart when I was finally allowed downtown to the library, scarfing up armloads of her mysteries every week. I had no idea they were that old! Books were timeless to me at the time. I should go back and try one now. . . She outsold Agatha Christie, having sold ten million copies by the time of her death. And this is when most books were hardback!

And then we come to the first cozy mysteries. In 1911, G. K. Chesterton published a collection of short stories, The Innocence of Father Brown where the principal solves mysteries with well, basically, empathy and understanding. Now we’re talking! To heck with forensics and blood spatter. . .

And voila, now we’re in the Golden Age of mysteries: Dame Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, Margery Allingham. . . the list goes on. These were most often cozies or another branch, country house, mysteries, where we delve into a rich well of fascinating characters in a small setting. These are the mysteries I cut my young teeth on (before the wisdom teeth came in <G>, which, they never did, come to think of it!). I don’t know what the call of a narrow setting and deep characterization is, but I’m apparently not alone in my lack of interest in violence and DNA.

But with wars and depression, the world became a grimmer place. Male writers jumped in to write detective noir and potboilers.  Hard-boiled detective fiction mostly developed out of 1920s prohibition when the good guys battled organized crime in a legal system as corrupt as the gangs. Pulp magazines proliferated, commercializing  the genre, if not the authors. Filmmakers loved the action, so this new genre of crime fiction flourished. Writers such as Sara Paretsky, Robert B. Parker, and Sue Grafton carried the genre well into the 21^st century, popularized by the development of paperback novels in the 1930s. (that’s a whole ‘nuther research story)

And in a way, those grim novels caused the return of the gentler mysteries, the ones beloved by readers of Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers, where the amateur sleuths are lovable and fallible, and any violence occurs off screen. Yes, it’s escapism. If I want facts, I’ll read the newspaper. Fiction is my relaxation. So I want my heroines to be delightful and quirky and my mysteries to be solved with clues from the setting and people around them.

Where I do start running into problems these days is that the cozy genre is becoming claustrophobic. Bookshops, bakeries, knitting--cozy, and limiting. Fiction shouldn’t have rules! I originally didn't miss the lack of sex, violence, and foul language in genre cozies—but escapism eventually lapses into boredom without originality. If a body falls on your head, I’m guessing you won’t say Oh sugar! We may need to take cozies out of the 1950s and into the 21^st century just a wee bit!

Do you read mysteries? Do you have a favorite author or genre? Do you prefer that your genre stick to the “rules”?

Comments

[Misti]

I love mysteries. My favorite are historical mysteries with romance. Everything is better with romance, IMO. I grew up reading Agatha Christie and Elizabeth Peters. I've read Dorothy Sayers and Wilkie Collins. I even tried Dashiell Hammett's The Thin Man and I have to say it: I liked the movie better. :)

I did read cozies for awhile but I got bored of them. I liked the lack of darkness and violence and I love amateur sleuths but I think it was really that the romance in them is almost non-existent. It's not lack of sex but lack of emotional connection that I was missing.

[Donna H.]

I just love to read historical mysteries. Brother Cadfael by Ellis Peters got me going and I like anything up to and including WWII. If there is a bit of romance thrown in fine and dandy, just adds to the story. The hard boiled books never appealed to me but I did like Sue Grafton, Dana Stabenow (highly recommended love her heroine Kate Shugak) and most books that are set in Britain or by British authors. Cosies are impossible for me to get into even tho I keep trying! I love puns so the titles are fun and very inventive.

[Kareni]

I do like mysteries, admittedly, I like many genres. I've enjoyed mysteries by Anne Cleeland (a newer favorite), JD Robb (an older favorite), and Agatha Christie (a long ago favorite). I don't need authors to stick to the rules (unless we're talking romance in which case a happy ending is mandatory); I'm happy to read any story that grabs me.

Best wishes with this new series and direction, Pat!

[Patricia Rice]

You may be on to something about the lack of emotional connection. There are a few cozies that are actually warm and cozy with neighbors and whatnot, but the romances are pretty lacking. Whereas some of the Golden Age mysteries really amped up the sexual tension without need of more than a few smoldering looks.

[Patricia Rice]

I know, the puns first sucked me in to. And many of the first books were quite entertaining. I think I just got bored. There are a lot of Brit mysteries and I'm having difficulty sorting through them!

[Patricia Rice]

Thanks, Kareni! And it's not romance without a happy ending...

[Katja]

Like Kareni I like many genres and mysteries are definitely included. Sticking to te rules is more or less important, I need the mystery to have a logical conclusion, no last minute deus ex machina please and open ends are not my thing either. The ones where the culprit is caught but the larger organisation in the background keeps on going are not my cup of tea. Too much social commentary in my pleasure reading is not for me.
Other than that, I will read anything and don't care about rules.
So I read anything from the classics like Agatha Christie, Conan Doyle, Dorothy Sayers as well as modern police procedurals, thrillers, detective stories ...
Some of the Swedish mysteries are very good (although quite a few do that social commentary thing, that I do not like) and I especially like mysteries with local flavours, so I can do some armchair travelling at the same time. In fact before we travel somewhere I actively search for mysteries in that location. So if anyone knows any good Danish mysteries, bring them on.
I also like historical mysteries, one of my favourite series - apart from the obvious ones like Ellis Peters - is the Hugh de Singleton series by Mel Starr.
As for cosies, it depends: The Thursday Club Murders are cosies I think, and this I like. But endless quaint little villages with always a similar cast and more crime in one week than most places see in 10 years - those not so much. Miss Marple was great, but a lot of wannabee Marples no thanks.

[Lil]

Mystery stories were my first love. I grew up on Sherlock Holmes, and rapidly made my way through the Golden Age authors. I find it harder and harder to find new mysteries I really like. I definitely don't like gore and grit, but I get annoyed by a surfeit of cats and cookies. What I really want is a traditional whodunit, where the author plays fair and gives me clues so I can figure it out, or at least say, "Oh, yes! How can I have missed that!" (Actually, I like it best when I did miss it.)
Anyway, I'm delighted that you are heading in the mystery direction. I love a real story!

[Patricia Rice]

Most readers know what they like and don't like and that's why publishers develop "rules" for genre fiction. They know the vast majority of readers prefer a certain type of book. But to throw the largest net, they have to create a huge list of no-no's. Although I think learning about a place or subject ought to be an addition to the rule book!

I can't help you with Danish mysteries, sorry, but thanks for the recommendations! I don't believe I've come across the Thursday Club Murders.

[Patricia Rice]

I'm not sure I can pull off a Golden Age mystery (even Dame Agatha cheated when it came to clues!) but I do hope I can provide story and characters and that the mystery is at least comprehensible. My reading habits are similar to yours so here's hoping...

[Annette N]

I read lots of different kinds of books but, I basically read romantic stories and mysteries. I have issues, so I no longer read books with specific, up close and personal blood and yuck.
I am not a fan of many cozies anymore. Not that I think they are shallow, but it is like looking at a bit of water on a sidewalk. Authors seem to have jumped on the genre and believe that readers won't notice that their plots are crummy and their characters cookie cutters.
I enjoy different authors. British authors seem to do really well. I just found Eric Brown. He writes about a mystery author in the 1950's. The stories are terrific and you can almost feel the place.

Karen Baugh Menuhin writes about Heathcliff Lennox. He was a WWI hero. And he helps a good friend solve mysteries.
Both these series have romance but it is not in the forefront. The gentleman find they are falling in love....and it is rather sweet.
There are several other authors I enjoy on a regular basis. Amanda Quick writes mysteries, and in my humble opinion she does a heck of a good job. And under Jayne Ann Krentz, she also writes mysteries. Then there is Jayne Castle.
Sorry, books make me get carried away.

Hope everyone is smiling.

[Laura Lee]

I too love all the classics. (Would Mary Stewart be considered Mystery?). All the ones mentioned by all of you, especially historicals I've read over and over. some not mentioned that I enjoyed are M.M.Kaye's Death in ..." series. They're probably out of print now but she wrote of places she lived with her military husband. Exotic places. Ariana Franklin wrote a number of medieval books based on her character "The Mistress of the Art of Death". Lindsey Davis writes of early A.D. Rome and environs. Candace Robb has her medieval Owen Archer series. Anna Dean only wrote 4 books based on a Jane Austin-like character but they were gems. C.S. Harris has her Regency sleuth (and romance) Sebastian St. Cyr series. I don't generally care for mysteries written about real people becoming sleuths but but I've read several where the characters of books became sleuths ie. "Death Comes to Pemberly" and .. Carrie Bebris's series. Finally I'd like to give a shout out to Constance and Gweneth Little, writing in the 40's. "The Black-headed Pins" was a hoot! Some of the other "Black" books are hilarious and some are "cosy-meh". (My idea of heaven is a library!)

[Teresa Broderick]

I must admit I'm not a huge reader of mysteries but I love Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes. I've also lately started reading Georgette Heyer's mysteries and I enjoy them. The Woman in White is a great read. I still have to get to The Moonstone. Lovely post and I've picked up on a few new ones I might be interested in.

[Jeanne Behnke]

Such an interesting Blog! From early on mysteries were my favorite genre but I like so much now. I have always liked a little romance in my mysteries. I'd say Nancy Drew & The Hardy Boys were my start. LOL. Romantic Suspense and Historical mysteries are favorites. There are just too many good books and good writers!

[Patricia Rice]

I may have to check the library for some of these that I haven't read, but I'm always ready to find another good author, thank you!

[Patricia Rice]

I'm smiling now that I've added more possibilities to my mystery list! I love Krentz in all her incarnations, although I consider them more romantic suspense than mystery, although she does seem to be making a shift with some of these latest.

[Patricia Rice]

that's what we're here to do... intrigue and support libraries and bookstores!

[Patricia Rice]

I think those were my first mysteries too, along with Trixie Belden. I graduated to the Golden Age authors not long after!

[Karin]

I have read all types of mysteries, in phases. I used to read a lot of hard-boiled detective fiction, which includes everything from Robert Parker's Spenser books, to Walter Mosely and James Lee Burke. There is another subgenre you left out, police procedurals. In these books, the detective is a paid professional instead of an amateur, and often there is a team of police detectives, so there is a workplace story element. I've read everything from P.D. James to J.D. Robb. I do prefer the British ones, for instance Emma Jameson's Lord Hetheridge series, and the Doyle & Acton books that Kareni is always talking about!
I've also read loads of cozy mysteries, and I mainly enjoy the Golden Age British ones. I am not a fan of contemporary cozies where the main character runs a cupcake shop and solves mysteries on the side. I guess the Brits would call them a bit twee?
Lastly, but probably my current favorites are historical mysteries, especially if there is a romantic subplot. It could be either involving the main detective character, as in the C.S. Harris Sebastian St. Cyr series, or characters who only appear in one book. Ellis Peters has a celibate detective monk in her Brother Cadfael books, but she always obliges us with a romance on the side!

[Binnie Syril Braunstein]

Pat - I love detective fiction! When I was 12, I cut my teeth on Mickey Spillane's hard-boiled detective, Mike Hammer. I graduated to Ellery Queen. And then I discovered the very brilliant and erudite Rex Stout and his corpulent detective Nero Wolfe (and sidekick, Archie Goodwin.) I also read a smattering of Erle Stanley Gardner.I don't read cozy mysteries, but if I did, I would read Miranda James.For those who do read cozies, I highly recommend the website www.StopYoureKillingMe. It's a fantastic site. Thanks for a fun column, Pat.

[Patricia Rice]

Twee, yes! there are still a few good ones with more meat to them but I am easily bored and six books of cupcakes (or even Evanovich) does me in.

I'm trying to space out the historical mysteries so I don't run out of books to read!

[Patricia Rice]

Wow, none of that Nancy Drew/Agatha Christie that the rest of us cut our teeth on! Straight to the hard stuff... impressive. I've tried some of those recently but they're so heavily laden with unnecessary description that I want to edit the heck out of them.

thanks for the URL! I'm gonna take a peek....

[Kareni]

www.StopYoureKillingMe.com does indeed look like a meaty site, Binnie. Thanks for sharing the link!