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My document stands unchanged because the final time I reported in on this topic: I’ve “solved” solely solved one single, solitary literary homicide thriller in my total “mystery-reading profession.”
One would assume that I might bear in mind which one, too, however I don’t. It’s written down someplace in my journal, however that’s a protracted learn as of late.
It’s not like I don’t follow, both ― homicide mysteries, particularly the sub-type often known as detective novels, have grow to be my go-to studying selections at night time for a very long time.
In 2025 alone, I’ve already learn 42 novels ― largely Rex Stout, Erle Stanley Gardner and John Dickson Carr. I re-read a few of Stout’s Nero Wolfe sequence, a specific favourite detective of mine, and acquired some new ones. Then, I ploughed into a few of Gardner’s Perry Mason sequence, which I’d by no means learn. After I’d learn a couple of of these, I acquired into Carr’s Dr. Gideon Fell sequence, which is what prompts this column.
A couple of issues to say earlier than I say what I wish to say. First, I learn so many thriller novels ― and Westerns and science fiction and all kinds of “style fiction” ― as a result of I reduce the twine on cable TV fairly a couple of years in the past. My pals are all the time telling me that I ought to watch this or that tv present, and I’ve to remind them that … I don’t have TV.
I do subscribe to a few streaming providers, however I’ve canceled one already this 12 months and can doubtless quickly cancel one other.
Second, I don’t know why style fiction appeals to me a lot. I believe I acquired it from Mother and Dad. Mother liked her romance novels, and Dad was a Western fan of lengthy standing. Mother adored Danielle Steele, and Dad thought Louis L’Amour was one in every of America’s biggest writers.
Nevertheless, so far as I do know, neither Mother nor Dad ever had a style for mysteries of any variety. I began studying them due to Humphrey Bogart films; once I noticed that “The Maltese Falcon” was based mostly on a guide of the identical title by Dashiell Hammett, I learn it after which all of Hammett’s detective novels.
If somebody reads Hammett, then Raymond Chandler isn’t far behind. If Chandler, then ultimately Agatha Christie. And so forth to John Dickson Carr.
Right here’s what I needed to say about homicide mysteries and detective fiction: Among the finest writing in English within the center twentieth century was written in these genres. Interval.
I’m amazed that it’s taken so lengthy for examples of them to be included in literature anthologies, particularly American literature anthologies. Usually, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and one or two Sherlock Holmes tales could be included in a British literature anthology, however an American invented such a fiction.
Who? Edgar Allan Poe. His brief story “The Murders within the Rue Morgue,” that includes the French detective C. Auguste Dupin, is broadly considered the primary instance of detective fiction. In all, Poe wrote three brief tales that includes Dupin, the perfect of which (in my view) is “The Purloined Letter.”
Simply to place it in perspective, the phrase “detective” didn’t exist when Poe wrote his first story. He didn’t invent the phrase, although.
There’s each an American and a British custom in thriller writing, that are fairly distinct. To not simplify it an excessive amount of, however Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes is an efficient instance of the British detective and Hammett’s Sam Spade is an efficient instance of the American one.
I like each varieties. It’s maybe odd that my favourite “British-style” detective is Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple and my favourite “American-style” one is Ross Macdonald’s Lew Archer.
Nevertheless, neither Miss Marple nor Lew Archer star in my favourite detective novels of all time. Discover that I used the plural ― “novels.” Earlier than yesterday, I had just one single detective novel that I’ve managed to learn in 24 hours ― that’s Dashiell Hammett’s “Crimson Harvest.” By far, not his best-known guide, however I do assume it’s his finest. I’ve written about it earlier than, so I received’t go into it now.
Nevertheless, yesterday I completely powered by John Dickson Carr’s “The Crooked Hinge.” It’s a positive instance of an “unimaginable thriller” ― one through which a homicide happens that can’t probably have occurred.
Carr specialised in that individual sub-sub-genre, which can be typically known as a “locked room thriller.” I’m not significantly keen on that kind of guide ― frankly, I’m drawn extra to the motion scenes extra widespread in American detective fiction.
However Carr had me from the primary chapter in “The Crooked Hinge.” The native squire, Sir John Farnleigh, may, in actual fact, be an imposter. And, to essentially make it attention-grabbing, it seems Sir John is a survivor of the sinking of the British passenger liner Titanic. That’s the place the alleged imposter might need come on the scene, and it simply will get extra attention-grabbing from there.
Relaxation simple … no extra spoilers. Though the novel was revealed in 1938, I’d by no means heard of it till a few months in the past. Now, it’s positively a favourite.
All I can say is that the novel has essentially the most sudden conclusion to a homicide thriller that I’ve ever learn. There isn’t a means I might have solved that one in any respect. Which, I suppose, is a part of the enjoyable.
David Murdock is an English teacher at Gadsden State Neighborhood School. He will be contacted at murdockcolumn@yahoo.com. The opinions expressed are his personal.
