crime fiction
Quick Summary
Crime fiction, also known as the detective story, is a literary genre that centers on a crime, its investigation, and the eventual revelation of the culprit. Key elements typically include a seemingly perfect crime, a wrongly accused suspect, the superior intellect of a detective, and a surprising conclusion where the detective explains their deductions. The earliest example of this genre is Edgar Allan Poe's "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," published in 1841. This genre has evolved significantly, featuring iconic detectives like Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot, and has also influenced the development of true crime narratives, which recount real criminal events in an entertaining format.12
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- Rubem Fonseca
…known best for his gritty crime fiction that shed light on urban life in Brazil.
Read More…known best for his gritty crime fiction that shed light on urban life in Brazil.
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John Grisham…the fastest-selling writers of modern fiction, a reputation that continued into the 21st century.
Read More…the fastest-selling writers of modern fiction, a reputation that continued into the 21st century.
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Elmore Leonard…an American author of popular crime novels. He is known for his clean prose style, uncanny ear for realistic dialogue, effective use of violence, unforced satiric wit, and colorful characters. Dubbed “the Dickens of Detroit,” Leonard once summed up the secret of his success: “If it sounds like writing, I…
Read More…an American author of popular crime novels. He is known for his clean prose style, uncanny ear for realistic dialogue, effective use of violence, unforced satiric wit, and colorful characters. Dubbed “the Dickens of Detroit,” Leonard once summed up the secret of his success: “If it sounds like writing, I…
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James Patterson…author, principally known for his thriller and suspense novels. His prolific output and business savvy made him a ubiquitous presence on best-seller lists in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Read More…author, principally known for his thriller and suspense novels. His prolific output and business savvy made him a ubiquitous presence on best-seller lists in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
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Ian Rankin…Scotland) is a Scottish best-selling crime novelist, creator of the Inspector Rebus series. (For Rankin’s reflections on the Scottish capital, see Edinburgh: A City of Stories.)
Read More…Scotland) is a Scottish best-selling crime novelist, creator of the Inspector Rebus series. (For Rankin’s reflections on the Scottish capital, see Edinburgh: A City of Stories.)
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Scott Turow…and best-selling writer known for crime and suspense novels dealing with law and the legal profession. Many of his works, notably Presumed Innocent (1987), were adapted for film and television.
Read More…and best-selling writer known for crime and suspense novels dealing with law and the legal profession. Many of his works, notably Presumed Innocent (1987), were adapted for film and television.
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Edgar WallaceWallace practically invented the modern “thriller”; his works in this genre have complex but clearly developed plots and are known for their exciting climaxes. His literary output—175 books, 15 plays, and countless articles and review sketches—was prodigious, and his rate of production so great as to be the subject of…
Read MoreWallace practically invented the modern “thriller”; his works in this genre have complex but clearly developed plots and are known for their exciting climaxes. His literary output—175 books, 15 plays, and countless articles and review sketches—was prodigious, and his rate of production so great as to be the subject of…
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