Detective fiction is one of the America's most popular and enduring literary genres. This critical text examines the fiction of Earl Derr Biggers, S. S. Van Dine, and Dashiell Hammett, three writers who, during the Roaring Twenties, transformed the detective story. The characters they created, including Charlie Chan, Philo Vance, and Continental Op, represented a new style of detective solving crimes in fresh ways. Their successes would push crime and detective fiction in startling and rejuvenating directions. Topics covered include the highbrow detective, the ethnic detective, the...

From 1949 to 1968 author Robert van Gulick wrote 15 novels, two novellas and eight short stories featuring Judge Dee, a Chinese magistrate and detective from the Tang dynasty. In addition to providing the setting for riveting mysteries, Dee s world highlighted aspects of traditional Chinese culture through his personal relationships with his wives, his lieutenants and the citizens he served with dedication on the emperor s behalf. This book gives a synopsis of each Judge Dee story, along with commentary on plots, characters, themes and historical details. Exploring van Gulik s influence on...