The genre "Murder Mystery" and Poe's influence

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It is my understanding that Poe invented the genre "Murder Mystery". Question: Is my understanding correct & if so, which of Poe's stories introduces this genre and who is the main character, i. e. the investigator of the murder?

-- Anonymous, February 10, 2003

Answers

Correct. "The Murders of the Rue Morgue" "The Gold Bug" "The Purloined Letter" "The Mystery of Marie Roget" in order of importance. Includes the serial amateur detective, Auguste Dupin, his intuitive deductive method, the dumbfounded police, a narrator sidekick of the master, some of the stock plots(locked room, hidden in plain sight, puzzles and ciphers, solving real life crimes(Mary Rogers). Not only a genre but practically a formula for countless other writers. What it is is peculiarly Poe, a combination of logical science with gothic poetic insight and fascination with dark mystery.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2003

And don't forget "Thou Art the Man," the first comic detective story.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2003

i think e a poe was the first author to establish a "murder mystery" genre you can tell by the early authors- they all talk about love

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2004

i think e a poe was the first author to establish a "murder mystery" genre you can tell by the early authors- they all talk about love!

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2004

poe was an old man and a old farter. he stunk horribly. he smelt like rotten eggs.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2005


Poe wrote about Gothic Romance, Mystery, Detective, and Suspense.

-- Anonymous, February 17, 2005

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