TO A GREAT MIND, NOTHING IS LITTLE: A Celebration of the Detective Genre (for Juniors Only)

There are, of note, four distinct varieties of what we call "Pop-Culture" or light novels or and the detective story.  These types may overlap somewhat in content from time to time, but although they may borrow devices, themes or appeals from one another, they follow the stylistic guidelines of and evolve within their own genre boundaries.

stories:  The romance novel, the adventure novel, the mystery novel

Of these four kinds of literary and screen entertainments, the detective story is the youngest and most complicated; the most difficult in construction and the most distinct.  It may seem, in one sense, to be an offshoot of the mystery novel, but upon closer inspection, this relationship is far more distant than the average reader imagines.  In order to understand the uniqueness of the detective story, we must first think like the protagonist detective, him or herself:  we must endeavor to determine the peculiar appeal of this genre to all classes of people...

It has been asserted that the answer is that the detective story belongs more to the category of riddles than mysteries: it is, when written well, a complicated and extended puzzle cast in fictional form, and resembles in structure and mechanism the cross-word puzzle. Think about it:  in each, there is a problem to be solved, and the solution depends entirely on the mental process of the reader or observer; the analysis and fitting together of apparently unrelated parts, and in some measure, educated guessing.  Each is supplied with a series of overlapping clues to guide the solver, and when these clues are snapped firmly into place, a solution may be achieved, and all the little details weave together nicely into a complete, interrelated and closely knitted fabric.

There is no more stimulating activity than that of the mind, and no more exciting adventure than that of the intellect.  Human beings enjoy solving riddles and puzzles; they have throughout the ages. Because of this, the detective story has set its own standards, drawn its own rules, and advanced in its form and technique.  Its style is direct, simple, smooth and unencumbered rather than being one replete with descriptive passages, metaphors, and word pictures.  The skill of a detective story's craftsmanship is revealed in the way all the clues: characterization, syntax, diction, and plot fit together and somehow manage to reveal all for the reader and observer to discover.  There is a strict ethical course of conduct that must be followed by the detective novelist:  he/she must NEVER once deliberately fool the reader; he/she must succeed by ingenuity, alone.

As we are learning now, Edgar Allan Poe was the undisputed "Father" of the Detective Story, literally creating the template for all the detective fiction to follow.  Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, himself once said that "Poe was a model for all time."  In just three of his stories, Poe created the amateur detective (C. Auguste Dupin) and his narrator friend, the locked-room mystery, the eccentric amateur sleuth outwitting the police force, the "catalogue of minutia," the interview of the witnesses, the solving of a cold case that stumped the police, scattering of false clues by the murderer, and the concept of "ratiocination" (later explained by Sherlock Holmes as "observation and deduction.")  Other stories by Poe presented the notion of cryptic ciphers, surveillance, and the least-likely person theme (in one case, the narrator, himself is the murderer!)

Poe also began the tradition embraced by connoisseurs of crime fiction: "The Rules of the Game."

These rules state, among other things:
1.  The detective story must play fair (revealing all clues to the reader)
2.  The detective story must be readable.
Therefore, the true detective story, according to Poe, is like a game of chess played by the author and reader--an interaction in which clues are cleverly dropped, often in the disguise of underplayed narration, for the astute reader to catch and assemble.

All good detective stories have had for their protagonist a character of attractiveness and interest, of high and fascinating attainments, a man or woman at once human and unusual, colorful and gifted.   Many authors of the detective story, including Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, write their stories backward, just to be sure to adhere to the rules of the game.  This way, they begin at the answer and are sure to sprinkle the clues appropriately in the story, down to the beginning.  It is what I like to call "unravel writing," writing that assures that the path will lead the reader to the correct deduction IF he/she has paid close attention.

Poe's stories led to the development of such popular characters like Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot,  Nancy Drew, and Miss Marple.  More modern greats like Columbo, Magnum P.I., and Detective Briscoe, Goren, and Eames from the infamous (and my personal favorite) Law and Order began to populate our television sets. Movies have also been made, such as Sherlock Holmes starring Robert Downey, Jr., often adding in elements of humor, adventure and sometimes even romance to twist and turn the story even a bit further.  But the primary elements of interest remain the same.

Crime has always exerted a profound fascination over humanity, and the more serious the crime (a la Criminal Minds, HBO's True Detective or such macabre movie stories such as The Red Dragon and Silence of the Lambs from the Hannibal Lecter series) the greater the appeal.  Murder, it appears, gives an added zest to the solution of the problem, and seems to render the satisfaction of the solution just so much the greater.  The reader or viewer feels no doubt that his/her efforts have achieved something worthwhile after the amount of mental energy he/she has had to expend.

Below, I have attached links to some of my favorite detectives set in scenes from their series and movies throughout the years.  Take a look: I hope you enjoy them, and I hope that you will share which ones you enjoyed the most and then share some of your favorites, too!  As the great Detective Holmes once said:  "My mind rebels at stagnation; give me work!  Give me problems!"  

I've always loved a good intrigue...and as we continue our study of Poe, I hope you do, too!

Hercule Poirot (Agatha Christie)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xYoMiTvcAA

Columbo  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=To2gyaczP9g

Magnum PI   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBIgXhiOpeQ

Sherlock Holmes #1  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hjPxUfV32Q

 Sherlock Holmes #2  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1OYiPa-eLg

Law and Order, Criminal Intent  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0fc2Ddoln4

Shawn Spencer, from Psych  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krWONONSN78

AND we cannot neglect the Ladies!

Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aEqGHISwqk