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johnrcs 's review for:
The Murders in the Rue Morgue
by Edgar Allan Poe
It's incredible to read this for the sheer discovery of how many devices that are now standard fare in crime fiction were invented in this one short story. The idling armchair detective able to easily outwit the bumbling police, the red herrings, the plot to ensnare the true criminal, all is present in this tale. The seed of the greatest crime writers to come was planted in this quick tale of mystery.
It's difficult to grade a story of this genre without critiquing the plot itself, even if it was the very first of its kind. Unfortunately, the twist is fairly ridiculous and completely unguessable, but Poe perhaps didn't intend for it to be a plot that the reader could preempt. If we hold it to today's standard, however, I would defy anyone to work out the killer before they are revealed.
The story is placed on hold initially whilst Poe ponders on the meaning of intellect, with numerous metaphors established via the medium of chess, draughts and whist. A beautifully written introduction that establishes the means of the armchair detective of the story nicely - not a professional, but one who can think in a way unlike others. It would have been more effective had there been a few nuggets threaded through the plot that gave the reader a chance to apply their own thinking as to the murderer.
For its size, Poe tells the story well. His way of writing is always musical and easy to fall into despite his love of purple prose. Enjoyable and easy to revisit.
It's difficult to grade a story of this genre without critiquing the plot itself, even if it was the very first of its kind. Unfortunately, the twist is fairly ridiculous and completely unguessable, but Poe perhaps didn't intend for it to be a plot that the reader could preempt. If we hold it to today's standard, however, I would defy anyone to work out the killer before they are revealed.
The story is placed on hold initially whilst Poe ponders on the meaning of intellect, with numerous metaphors established via the medium of chess, draughts and whist. A beautifully written introduction that establishes the means of the armchair detective of the story nicely - not a professional, but one who can think in a way unlike others. It would have been more effective had there been a few nuggets threaded through the plot that gave the reader a chance to apply their own thinking as to the murderer.
For its size, Poe tells the story well. His way of writing is always musical and easy to fall into despite his love of purple prose. Enjoyable and easy to revisit.