The Secrets of Great Mystery and Suspense Fiction

Overview

Course No. 2442

Professor David Schmid guides you through the captivating evolution of mystery and suspense fiction in this 36-lecture course. From Victorian locked-room puzzles to modern Nordic noir, you’ll explore how iconic detectives, cunning criminals, and ingenious plots have shaped this globally beloved genre.

Discover how diverse cultures have reinvented mystery tropes, analyze the genre’s key components, and understand why stories from Sherlock Holmes to Lisbeth Salander continue to thrill readers across generations and mediums.

Video Lectures

01: Mystery Fiction’s Secret Formula (32 min)

Uncover the controversial origins of mystery fiction with Poe, Doyle, and Christie.

02: The Detective Is Born (33 min)

Examine the evolution of flawed yet brilliant investigator archetypes.

03: The Criminal (34 min)

Study notorious antagonists and the cat-and-mouse dynamic with detectives.

04: The Sidekick (33 min)

Analyze the Watson archetype and other pivotal supporting roles.

05: Detecting Clues (33 min)

Learn how clues mislead and enlighten both characters and readers.

06: Case Closed? The Problem with Solutions (35 min)

Evaluate what makes satisfying mystery resolutions.

07: The Locked Room (36 min)

Explore Victorian puzzle mysteries and their enduring appeal.

08: The Dime Novel (35 min)

Discover how 19th-century pulp fiction shaped modern suspense.

09: Murder in Cozy Places (34 min)

Study the shock value of crimes in idyllic settings.

10: Return of the Classic Detective (35 min)

Trace hard-boiled detectives through Prohibition-era influences.

11: The City Tests the Detective (32 min)

See urban environments as active characters in mysteries.

12: The Private Eye Opens (32 min)

Compare American private eyes to classic detectives.

13: African American Mysteries (30 min)

Explore justice themes in Black-authored crime fiction.

14: The Femme Fatale (33 min)

Decode noir’s most iconic female archetype.

15: The Private Eye Evolves (30 min)

Track investigator evolution through Lisbeth Salander.

16: Latino Detectives on the Border (29 min)

Examine Hispanic contributions to mystery fiction.

17: The Lady Detective (32 min)

Celebrate female investigators across literary history.

18-19: Violence in Mysteries (59 min total)

Compare restrained vs. graphic violence approaches.

20: Psychopaths and Mind Hunters (32 min)

Analyze the rise of psychological “whydunit” mysteries.

21-22: Police Roles (61 min total)

Study law enforcement as both antagonists and protagonists.

23: Native American Mysteries (29 min)

Discover tribal police dynamics in Indigenous crime fiction.

24: European Mystery Tradition (32 min)

Tour continent-specific crime storytelling approaches.

25: Nordic Noir (30 min)

Examine socially conscious Scandinavian crime fiction.

26: Global Mysteries (33 min)

Explore Japanese, African, and Latin American variations.

27-28: True Crime (64 min total)

Trace factual crime narratives from sermons to podcasts.

29: Historical Mysteries (30 min)

Blend past events with fictional detective work.

30: Spies and Conspiracies (30 min)

Compare Bond-style thrillers to geopolitical suspense.

31: Female-Centered Suspense (30 min)

Analyze complex women beyond victim/detective roles.

32-33: Justice Systems (61 min total)

Study poetic justice and courtroom drama conventions.

34: LGBTQ+ Mysteries (29 min)

Explore queer reinventions of detective fiction tropes.

35: Multimedia Adaptations (30 min)

Track character reinventions across books/screens.

36: Mysterious Experiments (32 min)

Speculate on the genre’s future evolution.