Related Terms:

Scope Note:

Fictional work in which a detective (sometimes merely an endangered individual forced to "detect" for his own self-protection) attempts to solve a crime, usually a murder or theft. The detective may be an amateur, a private investigator, or a plainclothes member of a police force, but whatever the identity, the mystery places the emphasis on the search for clues and rationative power of the detective, rather than the efforts of police or lawbreakers. In the mystery, suspense derives from the narrative's puzzle-like structure, with a group of suspects, whose testimony and motives must all be investigated until, in the surprising conclusion, the intelligent detective perceives the flawed alibi or other clue betraying the culprit's identity. Popular mystery heroes from literature include Boston Blackie, Father Brown, Charlie Chan, Adam Dalgliesh, Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Sherlock Holmes, Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot, Ellery Queen, The Saint, Michael Shayne, Philo Vance, Lord Peter Wimsey, Nero Wolfe, Mr. Wong, and The Thin Man. Hardboiled detectives including Philip Marlowe, Sam Spade, and Mike Hammer are sometimes classified under Film noir. Some mystery heroes cross with other genres, such as Torchy Blane with Journalism, and Hopalong Cassidy or the Cisco Kid, most of whose exploits are mysteries within a Western setting. Note: Detectives whose primary identification is with the police force and whose work is primarily involved with police methodology, rather then their own unique method of solving a case, should be classified under Police. Feature examples: DAUGHTER OF SHANGHAI; GREEN FOR DANGER (with Adaptation); I WAKE UP SCREAMING; KLUTE; LAURA (with Romance; Adaptation); MEET BOSTON BLACKIE (with Espionage); MURDER BY DEATH (with Parody); THE PENGUIN POOL MURDER; SECRET OF THE BLUE ROOM; AND THEN THERE WERE NONE / TEN LITTLE INDIANS (with Adaptation). TV examples: BARNABY JONES; CHARLIE'S ANGELS; COLUMBO; THE GALLERY OF MME. LIU-TSONG; GET CHRISTY LOVE (with Ethnic); HART TO HART; MACGYVER; MOONLIGHTING; MURDER, SHE WROTE; REMINGTON STEELE; THE ROCKFORD FILES; 77 SUNSET STRIP.

Subject Categories: