Crime Fiction

Unit
Packet

Name______________________
English 7- ________

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 Overview of Crime Fiction Packet
I. Genre

A. Subgenres and sub-subgenres

B. Definitions

II. History
A. Authors

B. Time Periods

III. Crime Fiction Terms

IV. Crime Fiction Story Charts

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 Genre/Subgenres and Sub-subgenres

I. Crime Fiction

Crime fiction is probably the best description of the top level class of books that includes Mystery Fiction
and Detective Fiction. There are several requirements for a book to be classified as Crime Fiction:

♦ It must be fiction. Names, places, and events may be real, but the plot must be fictitious.

♦ There must be a crime. Typically, this crime is a murder, but in principle, it could be any crime.

♦ There must be an investigative process.

♦ There must be a solution to the crime (or a satisfactory conclusion to the investigative process).

Mystery Fiction and Detective Fiction are two broad categories within Crime Fiction (subgenres). The
difference between Mystery Fiction and Detective Fiction is subtle, and in practice, there are many
examples of books that can be characterized as both (or as more than one subgenre). On the following
pages, you will find just some of the genres that fall within the category of Crime Fiction.

A. Detective Fiction

Detective fiction often has a recurring character (within a series of stories) who is usually the
investigator of the crime and the protagonist of the book. The word detective here is something of a
misnomer because the principal character may be a professional, an amateur, a child, a couple, an
animal, a computer, or almost anyone or anything from the imagination of the author.

Common features of Detective Fiction are an investigator who is unmarried, with some source of
income other than a regular job, and who generally has some pleasing or unusual
characteristics/traits/quirks. He or she often has a less intelligent assistant, or foil, who is asked to
make small inquiries about the crime being investigated and also acts as the “audience” for the
explanation of the mystery at the end of the story.

Other common features include:

♦ A country house robbery (or some type rural location in which the crime occurs)
♦ An inside job
♦ A celebrated (well-known and respected) investigator
♦ Bungling local police
♦ False Suspects and Red Herrings
♦ The least likely suspect
♦ A locked room murder
♦ A reconstruction of the crime
♦ A final twist in the plot

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Detective Fiction Sub-subgenres:

1. A classic example of Detective Fiction is the Private Investigator (aka, P. I. or Private

Eye). Independent and extremely intelligent, the heroes of these stories are
professional private investigators or ex-police officers who take on cases as private
consultants. (Example: Sherlock Holmes)

2. The Cozy* is a popular form of Detective Fiction. Cozies usually feature a rather gifted
non-professional, or amateur, investigator as the main character. Often, they have
leading characters with occupations other than that of an actual police, detective, or
official investigator (hence, the idea of a non-professional)—occupations ranging
from caterers to retired school teachers. Other than the murder itself, there is rarely
any significant violence depicted. Small towns and country villages are often settings
for Cozies. Usually the crime is a murder that occurs in a closed environment (a
locked room crime) by one of a limited number of suspects. (Example: Agatha
Christie’s Miss Marple novels)

*Some contemporary writers and publishers separate the Cozy into different sub-
categories, such as Cat Cozies or Hobby Cozies. Others may also make distinctions
between the Cozy, the Traditional Mystery, and the Amateur Sleuth. Sometimes the
distinctions involve the types of crimes committed and/or the types of characters
portrayed. However, even when writers, publishers, or readers debate and make these
various distinctions, each genre tends to have some similarities to or origin in the
broader definition of the Cozy.

3. Police Procedurals are another type of Detective Fiction. An actual police officer is the
main character of this story. Often has a realistic depiction of a police officer’s
routine. In these stories, the investigative process is usually more important to the
story than the investigative characters who tend to provide the solution to the crime.

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 B. Mystery Fiction

Mystery Fiction includes the happening of an unknown event which requires a solution by the
protagonist. Though it technically belongs under the genre of Crime Fiction, it does not necessarily
require the occurrence of a crime against government law but may involve moral or ethical crimes.

Mystery Fiction Sub-subgenres:

1. The Whodunit is a good example of Mystery Fiction. In the Whodunit, the main
purpose is to solve a puzzle by ascertaining the truth through a combination of logic,
observation, deduction, and inference. This type of story does not require a specific
individual to be the investigator, although one may exist (and in that case, this type of
story might also be characterized as Detective Fiction—see previous pages). Often,
the method and the identity of the culprit are concealed from the reader until the
end of the book. (Example: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie)

2. The Thriller can also be Mystery Fiction. Frequently preceded by an appropriate

adjective (legal thriller, political thriller, medical thriller, etc.), the emphasis is often
on action. The plot typically involves a hero and villain, with plenty of close calls
before the hero prevails.

3. Psychological thrills rather than physical thrills typify the Suspense Story. Often
moody and disturbing, suspense novels may be considered Crime Fiction if all other
conditions for the definition are satisfied.

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Crime Fiction

Detective Fiction Mystery Fiction

Private Cozy Police Whodunit Thriller Suspense

Investigator Procedural Story

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 History of Crime Fiction

Crime stories can be traced back to Ancient Greece, where playwrights like Sophocles and Euripides
entertained people with their plays that combined elements of mystery and drama.

Modern crime stories did not emerge until the Mid-Nineteenth century when Edgar Allan Poe introduced
Crime Fiction's first fictional detective, Auguste Dupin, in his 1841 story entitled "The Murders in the Rue
Morgue." Poe is thought of as the Father of the Detective Story. Poe continued Dupin's tales in other stories,
as well. The style of the analysis in this story, with its attention to the details of the crime to help reach a
solution, made it an inspiration for Crime Fiction and detective characters that followed—such as Arthur
Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes.

In terms of full-length novels, elements of mystery could be seen in the work of Charles Dickens. Dickens
wrote many novels that contained elements of mystery and suspense, including Bleak House (1853).

The first true mystery novelist was Wilkie Collins who wrote the first true mystery novel, The Woman in White
(1860). His later novel, The Moonstone (1868), is considered by some to be the first true English detective
novel.

In 1878, with the publication of The Leavenworth Case, Anna Katherine Green became the first American
woman to write a detective novel. This novel introduced elements of detective work that were later used and
imitated by English writers during the 1920s.

In 1887, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created the brilliant detective, Sherlock Holmes, in his story entitled "A Study
in Scarlet". Influenced by Edgar Allan Poe’s Auguste Dupin, Conan Doyle created Holmes as a character who
possessed a distinctive style of logic and who had an amazing flair for deducing clues. Holmes’ trusty foil is Dr.
Watson, who Conan Doyle often used to narrate Holmes’ adventures.

The 1920s ushered in the Golden Age of Crime Fiction. A time of growing prosperity in both England and
America, the popularity of Crime Fiction was at an all-time high. No longer used only to describe the period in
history, Golden Age refers as well to the style of writing itself. Crime in these stories strictly adheres to a
prescribed format with little or no variation. Agatha Christie emerged during this time period. She wrote
more than 80 novels, spanning a career of 50-plus years and is the most famous British writer of this time
period.

The public's love of Crime Fiction was not limited to the novels and short stories. The 1940s brought about
radio programs like “The Shadow” and “Suspense” that fell under the category of Crime Fiction. With the
invention of television, characters like Perry Mason, Simon Templar, Monk, Psych’s Gus and Shawn, and others
from modern television shows followed suit in their pursuit of solving crimes and mysteries.

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 Crime Fiction Terms
Alibi - an excuse that an accused person uses to show that he/she was somewhere else than at
the scene of the crime; the fact or plea of having been elsewhere at a particular time

Breakthrough - an advance or discovery that helps solve a crime

Clue - a fact or object that helps to solve mysteries; a piece of evidence that leads one towards
the solution of a problem (also clew)

Crime—an act committed in violation of a law

Culprit—the character who commits the crime

Deduce—to understand by logical reasoning

Detective — a person who investigates crimes and gathers information (also called an
Investigator)

Evidence —something, such as a witness statement or object, that is used as proof in a crime

Foil—A minor character who is a strong contrast to the main character, and who, specifically in
Crime Fiction, often helps an investigator in his/her pursuit of the solution to a crime; a trusty
(often silly) sidekick to the main investigator

Hunch —a guess or feeling not based on known facts

Infer—to derive a conclusion from facts given; to make an intelligent guess or conclusion
based on given evidence

Logic—a particular mode of reasoning (often based on real or scientific principles)

Method—how a culprit commits a crime

Motive — an inner drive that causes a person to do something or act in a certain way;
something that causes a person to act

Mystery — something that is secret and unknown (separate from genre definition)

Plot — the arrangement of incidents in a story (review Plot Journey)

Red Herring — a false clue which leads investigators, readers, or solvers towards an incorrect
solution
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Setting — the time and place of a story

Sleuth — another name for a Detective or Investigator

Suspect — a person who is questioned or thought to have possibly committed a crime

Suspense — a feeling of tension, excitement

Victim — someone who is harmed or suffers some loss; one who is subject to some form of
mistreatment

Witness — someone who saw or can give a firsthand account of something

Information from:
Mysterynet.com
ReadWriteThink.org
Various Mystery Handouts and Gale

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 Crime Fiction Story 1: Overall Crime Details

Title/Author: Title:

Author:

Significance/Meaning of Title:

Who 1? Victim(s):

Suspect(s):

Witness(es)/People Questioned:

What?
(crime)
When?
(Time/day of crime
and other key
events)
Where?
(place of crime and
other key events)
Clues/Evidence: Real Clues/Evidence:

Red Herrings:

How?
(method)
Who 2? Culprit(s):

Why?
(Motive)
Detective(s) and Detective(s):
Foil? Foil:
Observations and Deductions:

Subgenre and Sub- Subgenre:

Subgenre
Sub-Subgenre and Why?:

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 Crime Fiction Story 1: Literary Terms/Elements

Important Event/Occurrence

Quote/Speaker/Significance Key Quote:

Speaker:

Significance/Meaning:

Important Literary Term or Key Literary Term/Element:

Element and Meaning

Significance/Meaning:

Story’s Overall Theme

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

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 Crime Fiction Story 2: Overall Crime Details

Title/Author: Title:

Author:

Significance/Meaning of Title:

Who 1? Victim(s):

Suspect(s):

Witness(es)/People Questioned:

What?
(crime)
When?
(Time/day of crime
and other key
events)
Where?
(place of crime and
other key events)
Clues/Evidence: Real Clues/Evidence:

Red Herrings:

How?
(method)
Who 2? Culprit(s):

Why?
(Motive)
Detective(s) and Detective(s):
Foil? Foil:
Observations and Deductions:

Subgenre and Sub- Subgenre:

Subgenre
Sub-Subgenre and Why?:

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 Crime Fiction Story 2: Literary Terms/Elements

Important Event/Occurrence

Quote/Speaker/Significance Key Quote:

Speaker:

Significance/Meaning:

Important Literary Term or Key Literary Term/Element:

Element and Meaning

Significance/Meaning:

Story’s Overall Theme

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

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 Crime Fiction Story 3: Overall Crime Details

Title/Author: Title:

Author:

Significance/Meaning of Title:

Who 1? Victim(s):

Suspect(s):

Witness(es)/People Questioned:

What?
(crime)
When?
(Time/day of crime
and other key
events)
Where?
(place of crime and
other key events)
Clues/Evidence: Real Clues/Evidence:

Red Herrings:

How?
(method)
Who 2? Culprit(s):

Why?
(Motive)
Detective(s) and Detective(s):
Foil? Foil:
Observations and Deductions:

Subgenre and Sub- Subgenre:

Subgenre
Sub-Subgenre and Why?:

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 Crime Fiction Story 3: Literary Terms/Elements

Important Event/Occurrence

Quote/Speaker/Significance Key Quote:

Speaker:

Significance/Meaning:

Important Literary Term or Key Literary Term/Element:

Element and Meaning

Significance/Meaning:

Story’s Overall Theme

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

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 Crime Fiction Story 4: Overall Crime Details

Title/Author: Title:

Author:

Significance/Meaning of Title:

Who 1? Victim(s):

Suspect(s):

Witness(es)/People Questioned:

What?
(crime)
When?
(Time/day of crime
and other key
events)
Where?
(place of crime and
other key events)
Clues/Evidence: Real Clues/Evidence:

Red Herrings:

How?
(method)
Who 2? Culprit(s):

Why?
(Motive)
Detective(s) and Detective(s):
Foil? Foil:
Observations and Deductions:

Subgenre and Sub- Subgenre:

Subgenre
Sub-Subgenre and Why?:

15
 Crime Fiction Story 4: Literary Terms/Elements

Important Event/Occurrence

Quote/Speaker/Significance Key Quote:

Speaker:

Significance/Meaning:

Important Literary Term or Key Literary Term/Element:

Element and Meaning

Significance/Meaning:

Story’s Overall Theme

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

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 Crime Fiction Story 5: Overall Crime Details

Title/Author: Title:

Author:

Significance/Meaning of Title:

Who 1? Victim(s):

Suspect(s):

Witness(es)/People Questioned:

What?
(crime)
When?
(Time/day of crime
and other key
events)
Where?
(place of crime and
other key events)
Clues/Evidence: Real Clues/Evidence:

Red Herrings:

How?
(method)
Who 2? Culprit(s):

Why?
(Motive)
Detective(s) and Detective(s):
Foil? Foil:
Observations and Deductions:

Subgenre and Sub- Subgenre:

Subgenre
Sub-Subgenre and Why?:

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 Crime Fiction Story 5: Literary Terms/Elements

Important Event/Occurrence

Quote/Speaker/Significance Key Quote:

Speaker:

Significance/Meaning:

Important Literary Term or Key Literary Term/Element:

Element and Meaning

Significance/Meaning:

Story’s Overall Theme

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

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 Crime Fiction Unit
Crime Solvers
Group Guidelines, Expectations, and Commitments

Group Expectations
Throughout the Crime Fiction Unit, you and your assigned Crime Solvers group members will work
together to complete important class activities, discussions, and a major project. To ensure that you
work productively as a unified group, please remember the following:

 Listen actively to each member.

 Participate actively.
 Ask questions for clarification (of each other or of your teacher).
 Be respectful and supportive.
 Disagree constructively
 Remain focused and on task.
Complete individual and group tasks thoroughly and by the due dates (as assigned by
your group or your teacher).

What you do as a group impacts each person’s quality of learning and overall grade.

Sources and Plagiarism Reminder

As with any other work in English, you are NOT allowed to use Spark Notes, Cliff Notes, or any similar
type of aid or secondary source to complete any assigned activity, reading, discussion, or writing.

Review your Reading, Writing, and Sources handout to review the details of what you may and may
not use.

As always, the HONOR CODE applies.

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