Mysteries have always captivated us, offering a thrilling opportunity to unravel the enigma of a crime. They pique our curiosity and empower us, as we, like the protagonist, can employ our deductive skills to unmask the culprit in that exhilarating ‘aha’ moment. The mystery genre uniquely immerses us in the plot, allowing us to become part of the investigation. Like many other genres, it has branched out into various subgenres.
Let’s investigate the distinctions between detective stories, police procedurals, and capers.
The Detective Stories
Detective stories have a lineage that stretches back to Oedipus Rex by Sophocles. However, Edgar Allan Poe truly revolutionized the genre with The Murders in the Rue Morgue, published in 1841, marking the birth of the modern detective story. Poe drew inspiration from Mémoires (1828-29), penned by François-Eugène Vidocq, the founder of the world’s first detective bureau in Paris in 1817.
RelatedBest Agatha Christie Movie Adaptations For The Armchair Sleuth
Yet, it wasn’t until the subsequent century, the Golden Age of Detective Fiction from the 1920s to the 1930s, that authors began crafting stories characterized by intricate plots, fair play, and the popularization of the “whodunit” phrase.
Many authors of that time generated iconic characters who are still part of today’s vocabulary in that we all know who they are. We can see this with Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple by Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the Father Brown series by G.K. Chesterton, and more. Notably, the detectives in these stories were characterized by their incredible deductive reasoning used to solve the crimes they faced and their unique quirks and personalities. They were and are still admired for their skills.
In tandem, the 1920s into the 1940s saw the emergence of more hardboiled detective fiction with gritty, cynical protagonists in situations of urban crime. These detectives were less polished and rather heavy drinkers and smokers. They were often antiheroes and portrayed in noir fiction. They represented a more realistic view of society, not just the higher classes; they catered to everyday people and the wealthy. They worked in dingy offices, and women were called ‘dames.’
A whole new vocabulary was created with the detective genre of the time, terms like a sleuth, gumshoe, private eye, clue, red herring, etc. Famous authors of the time, such as Dashiell Hammett with Sam Spade and Raymond Chandler with Philippe Marlowe, even see a reemergence in updated stories for movies and television.
Post-World War II saw the emergence of a different approach to the genre, with writers like Patricia Highsmith, who preferred her novels to be classified as psychological thrillers. These thrillers include psychopathic villains, twisted plots with forbidden desires, and characters with strange fixations.
Another notable author, Ross Macdonald, is credited with elevating the detective novel to the level of literature through his concise tales of murder and despair. He changed the language of his stories to make them more effective. Finally, we have Ruth Rendell, whose stories delve into the minds of the investigators, the criminals, and the victims to give the reader complete insight into the plot in all its details.
Police Procedurals
As we move on to police procedurals, we see another subgenre, but this one uses actual police methods and law enforcement personnel to solve crimes. Again, the origin goes to Edgar Allan Poe, as his analytical skills influenced future police procedural narratives. This is also true for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who used meticulous approaches, logic, observation, and forensic science to solve his cases. Agatha Christie conducted detailed investigations with detectives, such as in Murder on the Orient Express.
RelatedThe Highest Rated Hallmark Mystery Movies Based on Books
In 1956, Ed McBain’s series 87th Precinct was considered a breakthrough in this subgenre. The novels depicted realistic police procedures, including teamwork to solve crimes. This led to a former police officer, Joseph Wambaugh, drawing on his own experiences in law enforcement to add authenticity to his novels, as seen in The New Centurions in 1970.
There is also the addition of actual police forces, such as Michael Connely’s Hieronymus “Harry” Bosch in the LAPD. Finally, Patricia Cornwell used police procedural elements in her series Postmortem, also in 1970.
Police procedurals emphasize realism and accuracy in using actual police work, forensics, interviews, and legal procedures. This means emphasizing an ensemble cast instead of one person. These stories follow the same narrative but add a step-by-step investigative process and demonstrate the challenges law enforcement faces.
Caper Stories
The caper story is a subgenre of crime fiction that follows the planning and execution of a crime, such as robbery, theft, swindling, or kidnapping, from the perpetrator’s perspective. Unlike other crime subgenres, the caper story tends to have a lighthearted and comical tone, even when the crime is serious.
The protagonist is a clever and resourceful criminal who devises elaborate plots, often involving unexpected twists and obstacles. Meanwhile, the police or investigators are usually portrayed as inept. “Caper” refers to a playful leap, a capricious escapade, or an illegal act.
The Golden Age of Detective Fiction saw the advent of the opposite side of crime with Maurice Leblanc’s Arsène Lupin, a gentleman thief and master of disguise, first seen in 1905 and even was introduced to another famous sleuth in the short story Sherlock Holmes Arrives Too Late in 1906.
Other popular series in a similar genre emerged with Simon Templar, better known as The Saint, by Leslie Charteris, another suave and debonair gentleman planning and executing daring heists from 1928 until 1963. The character was based on a film of the same name, leading to many books, short stories, television series, and adaptations.
Oddly enough, The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett was added to this category due to a group of characters all chasing a valuable statuesque as it integrated elements of deception and scheming.
What followed in the mid-20th century was The Asphalt Jungle, by W.R. Burnett, published in 1949. In it, a group of criminals plan and execute a major heist. Then, in 1960, Clayton Johnson and Jack Golden Russel told the story of World War II veterans planning to rob five Las Vegas casinos simultaneously in Ocean’s Eleven, which has been adapted into a successful film series.
RelatedExplained: The Mysterious Disappearance of Mystery Author Agatha Christie
Later, in 1969, came a few Michael Crichton novels, The Italian Job and, in 1975, The Great Train Robbery, based on the real-life Great Gold Robbery in 1855. Remember that Mr. Crichton also gave us the Jurassic Park novels, which led to a resurgence in the search for dinosaurs worldwide and the discovery of over 45 new species. The genre of caper stories has evolved, with authors exploring themes of crime, deception, and intricate schemes that we witness in print and on screen.
The Future of Mystery Literature
Mystery literature constantly changes and adapts to societal shifts, technological advancements, and readers’ preferences. As marginalized communities continue to emerge, protagonists’ representation and perceptions will also change. This refers to issues related to race and ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and identity that may be explored more frequently in mystery literature.
Furthermore, technology plays an increasingly important role in our everyday lives, which is also reflected in the genre. Cybercrime, digital forensics, and artificial intelligence are becoming more prevalent in mystery literature, and detectives and criminals use them.
We can expect to witness the emergence of more cross-genres in literature, where science fiction, fantasy, and even historical fiction will blend to create unique subgenres with distinctive viewpoints. Writers may also utilize their work to tackle urgent issues like environmental concerns and economic inequality.
In response to technological advancements, we may see an increase in interactive platforms like e-books and augmented reality, where readers can participate in solving crimes. The future of mystery literature promises to offer readers more inclusive and nuanced narratives. As they say, there are no limits to the imagination.
