Classification Notes Mystery & Suspense

Detectives Most mystery and suspense novels contain some sort of detective. Some are for-hire private detectives or police detectives, and some are amateurs. The following types of mysteries all include a detective…

Cozy Mysteries Agatha Christie created the cozy mystery. Two of her most famous characters are Miss Marple & Hercule Poirot(YouTube - Poirot Murder on the Orient Express 2009). A modern television version of a cozy mystery is Murder She Wrote.

Characteristics of The Cozy: a. English (setting and characters) b. Detective is an amateur c. Charming courteous people d. Violence is off-stage e. Set in the mansions or playgrounds of the wealthy

Hard-Boiled Detective Story Dashel Hammet created one of the most famous of the hard-boiled detectives: Sam Spade the central character in the novel The Maltese Falcon. The film version of this novel is a classic example of Film Noir.

Characteristics of Hard-Boiled a. American setting & characters b. Private eye is the main character or narrator c. Many characters are tough, cynical, even rude and don’t trust anyone. d. Violence is graphic

More Characteristics: e.The setting is on the mean streets of large cities f. Lots of action g. Detective might break the law in order to solve the crime or save a victim

Modern Hard-Boiled Other modern examples of the Hard-boiled Mystery on film (Neo-Film Noir) are… L.A. Confidential & The Man Who Wasn’t There

Police Procedural The police detective story is one of the most popular genres of television programs today. Some examples are: CSI, Law & Order, Bones, & NCIS

Characteristics of the Police Procedural: a. Ordinary police are the main characters b. They rely on scientific method, observation and intuition c. They examine evidence carefully & analyze facts d. They follow police procedures (The Miranda Rights, etc.)

The Original Detective Stories Early Arabic detective fiction: The earliest known detective fiction originates from the story “The Three Apples” in the collection One Thousand and One Nights Chinese Detective fiction: From the Ming Dynasty Chinese detective fiction – The hero is a traditional judge or similar official

Poe’s Classic Detective Edgar Allan Poe created a detective story that sparked interest for detective fiction. His detective was named August Dupin, and the first story was called “Murders in the Rue Morgue” written in 1841

Characteristics of the Classic Detective: a. The main character is a very smart detective b. He has an assistant of lesser intelligence(a sidekick who often narrates the stories) c. A policeman who is always way behind the master detective

More Classic Detective d. A variety of misleading clues e. A gathering of all the suspects where the detective will reveal the clues and “who done it” f. At least one unjustly accused suspect g. A locked room

More Classic Detective… Sir Arthur Conan Doyle based his character Sherlock Holmes upon Poe’s character

Other forms of Suspense Horror Another very popular form of both film and literature, the horror story is especially popular with the teen audience. Stephen King is one of the most prolific of the horror writers.

Characteristics of Horror: a. Knowledge of the future b. Theme: Winning freedom from oppression c. Selling one’s soul to the devil (evil) d. Fascination with death e. Main characters are victims f. Antagonist(s) are monstrous, bizarre, weird g. Fates worse than death (some kind of half life)

Gothic Horror Romance Some 19th century literature inspired this genre. Daphne Du Maurier wrote Rebecca an example of the gothic horror romance.

Characteristics of Gothic Horrors a. Set in a large isolated old house b. Moody hero c. A heroine without friends or family, but well educated

More Gothic Horror… d. Elements of the supernatural (a ghost) e. Usually includes a love story f. Always includes a deep dark secret Note: Misery (reversed roles of a gothic horror)

Modern Gothic Horror… Modern examples of the gothic horror romance are The Others & What Lies Beneath

Social Issue Suspense Many of John Grisham’s novels are social issues. He bases many of his stories on real-life law experiences. Some modern examples of the social issue are: Erin Brockovich, The Constant Gardener, Blood Diamond

Characteristics of The Social Issue Suspense: a. The main character is an ordinary person with no power (a young law student, a journalist, a politician’s wife). b. There is always a social issue involved (Insurance rip-off, medical fraud, scientific cover-ups, government conspiracies)

More Social Issue… c. They can also be psychological thrillers which solve the crime by looking into the mind of the criminal. (Catch Me if You Can, The Silence of The Lambs, Flight Plan)

Other Important Elements of the Mystery: Rules of the Game All clues must be shared with the reader b. Outcome must be logical c. Can’t use chance or coincidence to solve crimes

More Elements of Mysteries… Methods of Detection a. Suspects must have: means, motive & opportunity b. Detectives will use deductive reasoning c. Sometimes a criminal will incorporate a red herring to confuse the detective

And More… d. Every mystery will include these four elements: 1. Crime 2. Villain 3. Victim 4. Detective

The End…