Everyone enjoys reading a thrilling mystery novel! The suspicious tension, the dubious characters, and the constant guessing game is why I love the mystery genre.
The mystery genre consists of the solving of a crime – whether that be a murder, theft, or kidnapping. The crime solver can be anyone from a detective with true authority, a vigilante on the hunt for justice, or just your average citizen who ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or, maybe the crime solver isn’t really the crime solver after all… a growing subgenre in mystery is where the true perpetrator of the crime is the narrator.
The Beginnings of Mystery Novels
Novels involving crime and mystery have existed since Ancient Greece as authors Sophocles and Euripides often wrote about murder and revenge. As well, many literary enthusiasts claim that gothic novels in the 18th century were the foundation for mystery novels as though gothic novels did not feature a specific case being solved, there was definitely elements of mystery involved.
In the 19th century, crime rates increased drastically during the Industrial Revolution. Since many people were moving into populated urban areas, there became a rising need for detectives as murder and theft rates intensified. Thus, authors were inspired to write about detectives and the mystery genre began.
The very first mystery novel is often credited to reputable author Edgar Allan Poe and his short story named The Murders in the Rue Morgue which was released in 1841. The Murders in the Rue Morgue featured literature’s first detective, Auguste C. Dupin. Author Wilkie Collins can also be credited to forming the mystery genre as mystery novels Moonstone (1868) and The Woman in White (1859) became admired.
We cannot discuss the mystery genre without mentioning the great Sherlock Holmes series. The first Sherlock Holmes novel was published in 1887 written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Since then, the Holmes series has expanded with four novels and fifty-six short stories.
The Golden Age of Mysteries
In the 1920s and 1930s came what is known as “The Golden Age of Mysteries”. This is where the mystery genre peaked. It gave rise to famed authors such as Agatha Christie, Mary Roberts Rinehart and G.K. Chesterton, Christopher Bush, John Dickson Carr, and many others!
The 1920s and 1930s were a time of mass consumerism and entertainment. The post-war period had people celebrating. The middle class lifestyle was quite lavish as they attended extravagant parties. Mystery novelists often wrote books that reflected this time period.
Modern Mysteries
The 21st century brought on new emerging ideas for the mystery genre. For example, cozy mysteries are extremely popular in today’s time. Cozy mysteries are not as dark, and they feature an amateur sleuth instead of a detective. Many modern mysteries focus more on ordinary individuals as mystery solvers, instead of detectives. As well, caper mysteries have become a popular genre of mystery. This subgenre involves the story being told from the point of view of the criminal.
I hope this encouraged you to read more mystery novels! The tense unraveling of the story, the shocking reveals and massive twists make the mystery genre extremely thrilling to read.
Do you need more of a mystery selection for your bookshelf? Come by either of our locations, Printmore or Playmore to take a look at our mystery novels! We have novels from Agatha Christie like A Murder Is Announced, or cozy mysteries like Buried In A Good Book. If you want modern mysteries, check out The People At Number 9, The Tenant, or We Were Liars.
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