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Genre

Crime Fiction

Satire and Mystery Fiction

Crime fiction, also called the detective story, murder mystery, crime novel or police novel, centers on criminal acts, especially the investigation of a crime, often a murder, by an amateur or professional detective. Such works typically emphasize the criminal investigation itself rather than courtroom proceedings, with suspense and mystery as defining characteristics; the broader genre encompasses the narrower, detective-centered form the atlas already carries as its own Detective Fiction genre.

Facts
Place of Origin
Germany 1
Notable Example
C. Auguste Dupin stories by Edgar Allan Poe 1
Defining Trait
Suspense and mystery are near-ubiquitous key elements 1
FAQs

What is the earliest known modern crime fiction?

Hoffmann's 1819 novella Mademoiselle de Scudéri.

The Wikipedia article on crime fiction names E. T. A. Hoffmann's 1819 novella Mademoiselle de Scudéri as the earliest known modern crime fiction. That places the genre's beginnings earlier than the better known detective tales of the mid nineteenth century.
Connections

Encompasses Form

Caper Story, Genres
Detective Fiction, Genres
Domestic Noir, Genres
Hardboiled, Genres
Mystery Fiction, Genres
Noir Fiction, Genres
Nordic Noir, Genres
Tartan Noir, Genres

Features Author

Agatha Christie, Authors
Source Wikipedia: Agatha Christie
Alexander McCall Smith, Authors
Source Wikipedia: Alexander McCall Smith
Andrea Camilleri, Authors
Source Wikipedia: Andrea Camilleri
Arnaldur Indriðason, Authors
Source Wikidata: Arnaldur Indridason
Additional Source Wikipedia: Arnaldur IndriðasonInfobox: genre
Arsène Lupin, Gentleman-Burglar, Works
Source Wikidata: Arsène Lupin, Gentleman-Burglar
Death of a Red Heroine, Works
Source Wikipedia: Death of a Red Heroine
Fred Vargas, Authors
Source Wikipedia: Fred Vargas
Gaston Leroux, Authors
Source Wikipedia: Gaston Leroux
Have Mercy on Us All, Works
Source Wikipedia: Have Mercy on Us All
James Ellroy, Authors
Source James Ellroy (Wikipedia)
Jar City, Works
Source Wikipedia: Jar City
Jim Thompson, Authors
Source Wikipedia: Jim Thompson (writer)
Jo Nesbø, Authors
Source Wikidata: Jo Nesbo
Additional Source Wikipedia: Jo NesbøInfobox: genre
Keigo Higashino, Authors
Source Wikipedia: Keigo Higashino
Maj Sjöwall, Authors
Source Wikipedia: Maj Sjöwall
Mario Puzo, Authors
Source Wikipedia: Mario Puzo
Murder on the Orient Express, Works
Source Wikipedia: Murder on the Orient Express
Natsuo Kirino, Authors
Source Wikipedia: Natsuo Kirino
Out (novel), Works
Source Out (Kirino novel) (Wikipedia)
Patricia Highsmith, Authors
Source Wikipedia: Patricia Highsmith
Per Wahlöö, Authors
Source Wikipedia: Per Wahlöö
Qiu Xiaolong, Authors
Source Wikipedia: Qiu Xiaolong
Raymond Chandler, Authors
Source Wikipedia: Raymond Chandler
Rebecca, Works
Source Rebecca (novel) (Wikipedia)
Roderick Thorp, Authors
Source Wikipedia: Roderick Thorp
Roseanna, Works
Source Wikipedia: Roseanna (novel)
Stephen King, Authors
Source Wikipedia: Stephen King
Stieg Larsson, Authors
Source Wikipedia: Stieg Larsson
The ABC Murders, Works
Source The A.B.C. Murders (Wikipedia)
The Big Sleep, Works
Source Wikipedia: The Big Sleep
The Day of the Owl, Works
Source Wikipedia: The Day of the Owl
The Devotion of Suspect X, Works
Source Wikipedia: The Devotion of Suspect X
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Works
Source Wikipedia: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Godfather, Works
Source The Godfather (novel) (Wikipedia)
The Killer Inside Me, Works
Source Wikipedia: The Killer Inside Me
The Redbreast, Works
Source Wikipedia: The Redbreast
The Shape of Water, Works
Source Wikipedia: The Shape of Water (novel)
The Snowman, Works
Source Wikidata: The Snowman
Additional Source The Snowman (Nesbø novel) (Wikipedia)Infobox: genre
The Talented Mr. Ripley, Works
Source Wikipedia: The Talented Mr. Ripley
The Terracotta Dog, Works
Source Wikipedia: The Terracotta Dog
In the Other Atlases

Originated In

Germany

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.

Sources
1. Crime Fiction (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Lead paragraph, third sentence
    Suspense and mystery are key elements that are nearly ubiquitous to the genre.
  • History section, Poe paragraph, Dupin sentence
    His brilliant and eccentric detective C. Auguste Dupin, a forerunner of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, appeared in works such as "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" (1841), "The Mystery of Marie Rogêt" (1842), and "The Purloined Letter" (1844).
  • History section, Hoffmann sentence
    The earliest known modern crime fiction is E. T. A. Hoffmann's 1819 novella "Mademoiselle de Scudéri".
  • In Group: Detective and Crime Fiction Subgenres, Lead
    narratives or fiction that centre on criminal acts
View the Source
Wikipedia: The Big Sleep
WikipediaFeatures Author: The Big Sleep, Infobox, genre field
Quote, Features Author: The Big Sleep, Infobox, genre field
Genre: Hardboiled detective, crime
View the Source
Wikipedia: The Talented Mr. Ripley
WikipediaFeatures Author: The Talented Mr. Ripley, Infobox, genre field
Quote, Features Author: The Talented Mr. Ripley, Infobox, genre field
Genre: Crime novel
View the Source
Wikipedia: Murder on the Orient Express
WikipediaFeatures Author: Murder on the Orient Express, Infobox, genre field
Quote, Features Author: Murder on the Orient Express, Infobox, genre field
Genre: Crime novel
View the Source
Wikipedia: The Devotion of Suspect X
WikipediaFeatures Author: The Devotion of Suspect X, Infobox, genre field
Quote, Features Author: The Devotion of Suspect X, Infobox, genre field
Genre: Crime / Mystery novel
View the Source
Wikipedia: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
WikipediaFeatures Author: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Infobox, genre field
Quote, Features Author: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Infobox, genre field
Genre: Crime, mystery, thriller
View the Source
Wikidata: Arsène Lupin, Gentleman-Burglar
Features Author: Arsène Lupin, Gentleman-Burglar, Infobox, genre field
Quote, Features Author: Arsène Lupin, Gentleman-Burglar, Infobox, genre field
Genre: Crime novel
View the Source
Wikipedia: The Shape of Water (novel)
Features Author: The Shape of Water, Infobox, genre field
Quote, Features Author: The Shape of Water, Infobox, genre field
Genre: Crime, mystery novel
View the Source
Wikipedia: Jar City
WikipediaFeatures Author: Jar City, Infobox, genre field
Quote, Features Author: Jar City, Infobox, genre field
Genre: Crime, Mystery novel
View the Source
Wikipedia: The Redbreast
WikipediaFeatures Author: The Redbreast, Infobox, genre field
Quote, Features Author: The Redbreast, Infobox, genre field
Genre: Crime fiction
View the Source
Wikipedia: The Terracotta Dog
WikipediaFeatures Author: The Terracotta Dog, Infobox, genre field
Quote, Features Author: The Terracotta Dog, Infobox, genre field
Genre: Crime, Mystery novel
View the Source
Wikipedia: Have Mercy on Us All
WikipediaFeatures Author: Have Mercy on Us All, Infobox, genre field
Quote, Features Author: Have Mercy on Us All, Infobox, genre field
Genre: Crime novel
View the Source
Wikipedia: The Killer Inside Me
WikipediaFeatures Author: The Killer Inside Me, Infobox, genre field
Quote, Features Author: The Killer Inside Me, Infobox, genre field
Genre: Crime novel
View the Source
The A.B.C. Murders (Wikipedia)
Features Author: The ABC Murders, Infobox, genre field
Quote, Features Author: The ABC Murders, Infobox, genre field
Genre: Crime novel
View the Source
The Godfather (novel) (Wikipedia)
Features Author: The Godfather, Infobox, genre field
Quote, Features Author: The Godfather, Infobox, genre field
Genre: Crime novel
View the Source
Rebecca (novel) (Wikipedia)
Features Author: Rebecca, Infobox, genre field
Quote, Features Author: Rebecca, Infobox, genre field
Genre: Gothic, romance, mystery, crime
View the Source
Wikipedia: Fred Vargas
Features Author: Fred Vargas, Infobox, genre field
Quote, Features Author: Fred Vargas, Infobox, genre field
Genre: Crime fiction
View the Source
Wikipedia: Jim Thompson (writer)
Features Author: Jim Thompson, Infobox, genre field
Quote, Features Author: Jim Thompson, Infobox, genre field
Genre: Crime fiction, hardboiled, pulp, autobiography, suspense, literary fiction
View the Source
Wikipedia: Keigo Higashino
Features Author: Keigo Higashino, Infobox, genre field
Quote, Features Author: Keigo Higashino, Infobox, genre field
Genre: Mystery fiction, crime fiction, thriller
View the Source
Wikipedia: Mario Puzo
Features Author: Mario Puzo, Infobox, genre field
Quote, Features Author: Mario Puzo, Infobox, genre field
Genre: Crime fiction
View the Source
Wikipedia: Patricia Highsmith
Features Author: Patricia Highsmith, Infobox, genre field
Quote, Features Author: Patricia Highsmith, Infobox, genre field
Genre: Suspense, psychological thriller, crime fiction, romance
View the Source
Wikipedia: Qiu Xiaolong
Features Author: Qiu Xiaolong, Infobox, genre field
Quote, Features Author: Qiu Xiaolong, Infobox, genre field
Genre: Crime, poetry, translation
View the Source
Wikipedia: Raymond Chandler
Features Author: Raymond Chandler, Infobox, genre field
Quote, Features Author: Raymond Chandler, Infobox, genre field
Genre: Crime fiction, suspense, hardboiled
View the Source
Wikipedia: Stephen King
Features Author: Stephen King, Infobox, genre field
Quote, Features Author: Stephen King, Infobox, genre field
Genre: Horror fantasy supernatural fiction drama gothic genre fiction dark fantasy post-apocalyptic fiction crime fiction suspense thriller children's fiction
View the Source
Wikipedia: Stieg Larsson
Features Author: Stieg Larsson, Infobox, genre field
Quote, Features Author: Stieg Larsson, Infobox, genre field
Genre: Crime fiction, thriller
View the Source
James Ellroy (Wikipedia)
Features Author: James Ellroy, Lead
Quote, Features Author: James Ellroy, Lead
Lee Earle "James" Ellroy (born March 4, 1948) is an American crime fiction writer and essayist.
View the Source
Wikipedia: Jo Nesbø
Features Author: Jo Nesbø, Infobox: genre
Quote, Features Author: Jo Nesbø, Infobox: genre
Crime fiction, horror fiction, mystery fiction, Children's literature, children's books
View the Source
Wikipedia: Arnaldur Indriðason
Features Author: Arnaldur Indriðason, Infobox: genre
Quote, Features Author: Arnaldur Indriðason, Infobox: genre
crime fiction
View the Source
The Snowman (Nesbø novel) (Wikipedia)
Features Author: The Snowman, Infobox: genre
Quote, Features Author: The Snowman, Infobox: genre
Crime fiction, Horror fiction
View the Source
Wikipedia: Roseanna (novel)
Features Author: Roseanna, Lead section
Quote, Features Author: Roseanna, Lead section
Roseanna is a mystery novel by Swedish writers Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö, first published in 1965.
View the Source
Wikipedia: Death of a Red Heroine
WikipediaFeatures Author: Death of a Red Heroine, Lead section
Quote, Features Author: Death of a Red Heroine, Lead section
Death of a Red Heroine is a mystery novel written by Qiu Xiaolong and was published in English in 2000.
View the Source
Wikipedia: The Day of the Owl
WikipediaFeatures Author: The Day of the Owl, Lead section
Quote, Features Author: The Day of the Owl, Lead section
The Day of the Owl (Italian: Il giorno della civetta [il ˈdʒorno della tʃiˈvetta]) is a crime novel about the Sicilian Mafia by Leonardo Sciascia, finished in 1960 and published in 1961 by Einaudi.
View the Source
Out (Kirino novel) (Wikipedia)
Features Author: Out (novel), Lead section
Quote, Features Author: Out (novel), Lead section
Out (アウト) is a 1997 Japanese crime novel written by Japanese author Natsuo Kirino and published in English in 2004.
View the Source
Wikipedia: Agatha Christie
Features Author: Agatha Christie, Lead section
Quote, Features Author: Agatha Christie, Lead section
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Mallowan, Lady Mallowan (née Miller, 15 September 1890-12 January 1976), usually known by her first married name, Agatha Christie, was an English author known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short-story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot (with the novel debut being The Mysterious Affair at Styles in 1920), Tommy and Tuppence (with the novel debut being The Secret Adversary in 1922), and Miss Marple (with the novel debut being The Murder at the Vicarage in 1930).
View the Source
Wikipedia: Andrea Camilleri
Features Author: Andrea Camilleri, Lead section
Quote, Features Author: Andrea Camilleri, Lead section
Andrea Calogero Camilleri (Italian pronunciation: [anˈdrɛːa kamilˈlɛːri]; 6 September 1925-17 July 2019) was an Italian writer best known for his Salvo Montalbano crime novels.
View the Source
Wikipedia: Gaston Leroux
Features Author: Gaston Leroux, Lead section
Quote, Features Author: Gaston Leroux, Lead section
Gaston Louis Alfred Leroux (French: [ɡastɔ̃ lwi alfʁɛd ləʁu]; 6 May 1868-15 April 1927) was a French journalist and author of detective fiction.
View the Source
Wikipedia: Maj Sjöwall
Features Author: Maj Sjöwall, Lead section
Quote, Features Author: Maj Sjöwall, Lead section
She is best known for her novels about the police detective Martin Beck.
View the Source
Wikipedia: Natsuo Kirino
Features Author: Natsuo Kirino, Lead section
Quote, Features Author: Natsuo Kirino, Lead section
Natsuo Kirino (桐野 夏生, Kirino Natsuo) (born October 7, 1951, in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture) is the pen name of Mariko Hashioka, a Japanese novelist and a leading figure in the recent boom of female writers of Japanese detective fiction.
View the Source
Wikipedia: Per Wahlöö
Features Author: Per Wahlöö, Lead section
Quote, Features Author: Per Wahlöö, Lead section
He is perhaps best known for collaborative work with his partner Maj Sjöwall on a series of ten novels about the exploits of Martin Beck, a police detective in Stockholm, published between 1965 and 1975.
View the Source
Wikipedia: Roderick Thorp
Features Author: Roderick Thorp, Lead section
Quote, Features Author: Roderick Thorp, Lead section
Roderick Mayne Thorp Jr. (September 1, 1936, April 28, 1999) was an American novelist specializing mainly in police procedurals and crime novels.
View the Source
Wikipedia: Alexander McCall Smith
Features Author: Alexander McCall Smith, Lead section
Quote, Features Author: Alexander McCall Smith, Lead section
He is known as the creator of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series.
View the Source
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