The 1920s and 30s saw the rise of what has been called “The Golden Age of Mysteries.” It was dominated by four authors: Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Ngaio Marsh and Margery Allingham, also known as “The Queens of Crime.”
Their books gave the reader the same clues as the fictional detective, allowing the reader to solve the crime alongside the protagonist. These novels were often set in locations that limited the number of suspects, like country estates or trains. The primary appeal was intellectual and not emotional. These puzzle mysteries were often referred to as “whodunits.”
In the last several years we've seen the popularity of puzzle mysteries rise again. |
