Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

Classic Mysteries: The Thirty-Nine Steps, The Murders In The Rue
Classic Mysteries: The Thirty-Nine Steps, The Murders In The Rue
Classic Mysteries: The Thirty-Nine Steps, The Murders In The Rue
Ebook1,707 pages28 hours

Classic Mysteries: The Thirty-Nine Steps, The Murders In The Rue

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

3.5/5

()

Read preview

About this ebook

Explore the origins of the mystery genre with these seven classic tales of suspense and intrigue from Edgar Allan Poe, Wilkie Collins, John Buchan, and others. Classic Mysteries includes: “The Murders in the Rue Morgue,” “The Mystery of Marie Roget,”, “The Purloined Letter,” The Moonstone, An Antarctic Mystery, The Lady in the Shroud, and The Thirty-Nine Steps.

HarperPerennial Classics brings great works of literature to life in digital format, upholding the highest standards in ebook production and celebrating reading in all its forms. Look for more titles in the HarperPerennial Classics collection to build your digital library.

LanguageEnglish
PublisherHarperCollins
Release dateApr 8, 2014
ISBN9781443437202
Classic Mysteries: The Thirty-Nine Steps, The Murders In The Rue

Related to Classic Mysteries

Related ebooks

Thrillers For You

View More

Related articles

Reviews for Classic Mysteries

Rating: 3.577419387096774 out of 5 stars
3.5/5

155 ratings9 reviews

What did you think?

Tap to rate

Review must be at least 10 words

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This work by Poe is often described as the first mystery. With such a distinction, it is an important work to revisit from time to time, even if its plot is not as fully developed as later efforts, because of its influence on masters of the mystery genre such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I remember reading this one back in high school and also in university. At the time, I was disappointed in it. As I read it this time, knowing the outcome, I think I appreciated it more because I found myself seeking the earlier hints which would lead to the crime's resolution. While I believe many questions remain unanswered regarding the sailor's role, I know I'm bringing my 21st century mindset to that question by envisioning lawsuits and other charges relating to harboring an orangutan in one's apartment. The use of deductive reasoning is the important contribution of this classic work which is probably appreciated most when it is re-read and studied for that reason.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Two women are found murdered in a locked apartment in Paris, and none of the witnesses can agree on what they heard. A man named Auguste Dupin examines each clue methodically, and comes up with a most unusual solution to the mystery.This is often credited with being the first detective story. The first section of the book is devoted to Dupin explaining how he uses deductive reasoning (at the time called ratiocination) to figure things out, and it's very tedious. The recounting of the crime scene and accompanying investigation are somewhat interesting. However, I think the solution is a bit too convenient and I don't think there's any way Dupin could actually have deduced it. Plus, if the sailor saw his orangutan murder two people, and then he ran away from the crime scene, why would he answer an advertisement asking if anyone had lost an orangutan?? I do find it interesting that the sailor is not held responsible for the orangutan's actions, though. That certainly would not be the case today. This is an important story to understand the history of the detective genre, but it's not actually that enjoyable to read.I listened to the audiobook read by David Case. I'm not sure if it was the audio quality or the narrator's voice, but I didn't care for it. I was considering listening to more of the stories in this audio collection but I think I'll pass.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I just skimmed this - how could he have known all of it?
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe is a novella that was originally published in 1841. Today this story is mostly admired for its’ historic value as it is considered the first modern detective story. The main character, C. Auguste Dupin solves the brutal murder of two women in Paris. Poe has his detective display many of the traits that become literary conventions in many of the detectives that were to follow, including Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot. The idea that the detective has great analytical talents, is exceptionally brilliant and has a personal friend do the narration are all plot points that were introduced in this story. Although the language is rather dated, this is a fascinating story and well worth a quick read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This stort story by Poe is considered to be the first detective story and has surely influenced other authors of such tales. It was the seemingly impossible scenario: two murdered women, one in a back yard and the other in a room locked from the inside. The murders are especially gory and violent. Monsieur C. Auguste Dupin is intrigued by the murders, and though the general concensus is that the situation is impossible, he believes that once the impossible is eliminated, whatever is left, though improbable, is the answer. Following Dupin’s thought process as he sifts through the information is an interesting study in the workings of a detective’s mind.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I don't recall exactly when I first read this (sometime in late elementary/middle school), but it certainly made an impact. I still consider Poe one of my favorite mystery writers.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The detective at the centre of this mystery, Auguste Dupin, was one of the inspirations for Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. Dupin here uses the techniques of eliminating the impossible and arriving at a conclusion that, however improbable, must be the truth. But it felt more long winded here, and we didn't get to know Dupin at all. Indeed much of this felt more like an analytical essay than a story. 3.5/5
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A Penguin 60s mini-book.I've read and enjoyed this story of "a gruesome crime and the birth of a super-sleuth" before.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is considered, if not the first, one of the first detective stories that defined the genre. Dupin is supposedly the model for Sherlock Holmes. Poe's description of the murder scene is surprisingly horrific for the time period. If you don't know how this who-done-it ends, it may surprise you. Read this and then watch an episode of CSI. You will see the formula still in place over a hundred years later.

Book preview

Classic Mysteries - HarperCollins

MΖbbook_preview_excerpt.html˒$Wr%+N2E.=|]NvDaxyžKWW[\taEtOK+?z3Nռ-k_ۚ,g;So+;l3.tMo^e';j͏K3Xͦͮ ~^m(s>˿~ߎ&ù W4 l7nsh*|wqge_U}Vc?5<;[ꮝL˴o.sq|sj2jnw7=bs8 蓏p} %[ 匵ܸUwn_2LS3M tcvgʶy˸oBtSٝ7MyTߜ4nis9l]kpnjl}f2b_i};Q6{zՂX=zn6n IoOą>#e~vym6?]jYF{){ʮ&aΛ橑l#RQ6o4K1/]u{+?[o&_[lSیñ]9wv-%.TTDZŪ^o5Ij16|5B z3;Cnf"3qf3 SIDG2K6΍FS?VK`^mo 7/8x&v? B-T 1RTo7}T ~7bkjЌh' 5fM;De[B@I]G se"a#(u8k6_L$-]kg2u~g5f|GILmOn|5+BPsVx 8w`@!^a\ٷfb3h}[7==Z@jzp:Ko+gLilO76iLb }dn%Kmq<ٮEx6Vv8.͓yx.|?W0JOUfq'~4BrƢW7yi1hq_S,㫗q8 2! >}oM:gUG^Gg |^]lf.%=Zb!jB|o763A)w)4xXpd7qez8&B2ed]]y珘4^w%!V[(/>ˍRXxNҷ?..xVPP*du)i㰓ofUj{vsMyK;k3Ū ے/}cR6]]۶:bf'i!fSd)Vyv闟C<5[z83k|98f7׍I!|\;I.].]ygfs—xiB@&.Y|jKk,seSC#`fbsǘK6~s{ԍ=ɂ6+'o 2\o=:4iGWWÖb3݄I_n uO> ijOr\.@-}- råC"lY4i2zK{p[e3\ ItdLdn>SUn^ChLёwv0 ^Ț@NQqХŨ;&Ua^Q^vaו9*X5{} j2Kd tcsw! {V>~un*lL#ggM2nU1=&E'h #\J.#IsIgks5gS!95gyñ6o![=L-(5dZhCYGj]B>;3{{Ǝj܆y, JG$ͼ9F<@IpfzCͮBLแN8ؾ\i9hg*Mo!F算- a;TWJvy@b<þ=Gn:q`B.7slƴ2pip?KDerx?:" Ƹp2ey '(WF2vqB$KSr?lqNNw‹}]IO> Dsb"y@*]um/^% &HRn=$Zc# 0'\[=i6xVg],X=atI~3yZi"BVm]R\e֤+#zGTɣ~jxebw{N-H4ZsXhe;>wq9_`-|N?,ZL qxqC>&<J$yxRpM3lYBƭ-&B"(oB)S . mMrI籵=vM2Y CvRe?+m%BUrffT ELѻK UR.Uw\=XթO$\Ac ]ÿI~v1=csik"X p,X~=qNr旴*!zq`[~2x?q6^/ۭ}E=ko[O{+؇jH5=<ױbǨ6zbq:|WHyje5 ;c]9 /}3ٹjEP=cM32ذiz[sQ{Q0-w>(qIJ\j|v|g Zg y)(=%nA'@[i. AoѼ&l~};=qw{nmkm!BCDOs3(wo(`ۭAWxưPMWSBR!fUc 䔕;R?~`84_p{D>ă*}U"qeHLM-q$9Uu$Gge(akJYfk=R!rEn o8g. WXz'8;OpiJ.#!`IV|H9 uL0zsvN0 C"@1]Q?Kie ?cVKCu1,%7Sΰ%BClSӘ3hOlX.-CͶGZM:), h&c!a° GjiCkfV֡*@.X- ~Z0ȋaNo|"@N Ehc )g4]M d7ާyRXrbmg7msDZoa<)`"r$XlL+}L]*#rXP'^:%CpLJ6[z #aFB>Ŵ'v+h1`7l7=םk&Muk4Y?Om ;}v iW4T#7,=NF })ΕծU~ |G"L/(.o# k퐝%?i#Kw6ЁI[\%ӥ8Muڎdbf"T[r;R!KO 0ED4W JX!fO8MN0X &Bv8&:1.rI7utkQCeoy6(W'\Z hmOp&f Zph`kIZL;tV'5WOeo IlLdUm.C0>,`L<.dgjfB^] D3< ?ӰO^K( >IUP/ƩX0V \$&M!4IN)mq隨5?>W"qsv_CLB(2uuMɖ!ZE<5.rJػ$<墀t#!`Uys,Ck[ ']A!F'#aڄ<)u VQq- ֵL?&H~*pd"&_wғa*8%C͆5LZ<\}d'GƋ?YG6T{LoO2à u蝳3*А Gk!` ,1CB"mN_ʀAlbF[/`_Hqwq.+;WI%EφEH=dd" Gv;yb,u+]9yVEޔP:I:% #0A͇j/ ,VJ <X p_!SMs8P[tm3"u]-$D8 $QdP^rȨ'fo5,9'g8dcv@n@EtZ ӫgBW 8-|j_Y㑼'y* 3pmGG0]ʻ4UĜ^#Pp@ld8ˊ~ߺ-Gx\I m AQ)^vrJ97~:/Pn-J .|OM @ FM;;G<4ZD.iUr9p;￷KUV?37p?jKqv?]1ygv;l-Ig#Y[S")uQm`6٠2(lce˳!]" !)3ƿO g#xm@S|nzg]0d*K?& n!T[H_Cv-PlMc>J*%jHroNxJk8ypGҙ/Ͽ3y'9W-U*Dn"IWd…f%lI3ckO!xĞz5*RXY)$*F٠kL%DSg7u^ζ) ]Gܒ[IIƶ6D#2o auJZg^+ny󰵐Rڊ~Hۚ0v Bu~D6ee,7`AgmX"Rc XƣL/asA\9jj*q$hR}ɴCrt+|s Iފ;5\in[<8w k4t\&i!,¢8@&ooyׄ0eX[jHڡm6n§ Vl?l3"I\{2 Ggr\A:/_Uj|gs:>H%~_'&@ܞj2j mܺv_5& BP fMLst -e^gӝj>)"'D:\m4.,`!#MX`I û$T FE5C{^. (FBLxh̲Cbr/783Cùo^yƖOmyAi:~AŽcՓxҋ=73c9L.]^g8‰9Xb'74!|\NT# r' e]C& ^)jE P^>B\8p 0iuXR٧./d_]V*}Jufޫۙ"-˄-B*B?S[i[qRy!a##/ XoJ*ɦAΔ+tރ 4y e=Ipe )e-m/|;b|ƞk졿e{T&VI7,vBBz| kLeShQ⩰dނs˙cA"9S,,aS&6*| oh:\.e^ +N:`~G΋iEٚDj*h8)A~89#LSۿ!3cT@(,ipL9^Ci \=Kw]ktSCko<`phl>WSg&8sՅf9[L|۱ SF<&C,f ǪV0y$N SܕBFFrQ\=O[,qq3Vk.zMY`K9T:9Pǡ%<;pq@.AK\;8tVZ|?v*1FC:* 6V< Pq5)mYA#IN5@`~yJnXB+4(˜Q1l3'=1Is3";Tq  *gOy2' LY[8/Q@OR v3a,*< &>@%2E\koa\@$鎍VdxP2UCeEnJGavW$ 2 B,zS6NkƳ0Ŭ*ڼoM:o}?A\_~Eе/n< z *h"^ݍl6W'fռXS |H_`wdvskfm,bWjvB_.@߆v qfՃ;T D}sk<֩2WOC8d:V"ŝiև{.};&h$S?-w}+S?Y0F~xhH"^)dXYq-T$UK :k$,4y%^_~#N9[i8LVpM( Jq2z!KnaEw JfXVc8)%jٞ38F-S/}BC㲜!͈~9v|QDW+Lŵr0ؓ.Ja GsY@nBG%-_@Jg\yI v07LCSN\y (I|d+X~$R%hM9)At|:Q҃LR('ޏnbe!6Ty4vŨξԗ+@[ ck &ẔT2>?x3N4P 1_L]\|xc7Ɍ/ ER$E(6} ;Hڥ?{ғlĿjh?ڛ~^Pխ 츩Yn?اd֮9x;&u)a Ŝ^j>E] ㏫;hfBSBtUNv@8)¸EUMA8i2-Jdqx9ʪXƁ*nsKjV{xzҰ=. 頑)P^&yY̖+r8%7N ؜r]}z6f4lKVWEE։!3x$bx .tǥR(fx?(8?G =#?0oggc:3g-f Ǧzl@@mҵfA>.M}a\Yl\qB#Y?GJwODĽ\('zOƖ-徂v5xfTKOI*KB9 i>Mm*"S.7 IG*Fܷ;uݥ `|W'Ngy\[.uKF [[yL1y7*Hd4َ dpm:; eaZt2qD?=$NMu1 6p oƈK6"<,tP,M~98\]P*\])>Gs\u8WNINCQy `_1 ZES+Rh:Z>PI?AɦwOքOaR7[yW]'t>(0e[$y,EBJB]+9ѷ,nFyC*STw8qDa ĬLC0q%0\EMN}LWF`l+k˔Np[x@[d)F"A7^hpUkm_)UWh12? 2 *U5[@.3b垈2+xRdH3~DT H| vu?V3C)$nL\VN!WG29rnAg&ʷJqQIntyatO6g Dn`g,w|t; p-)׈,qwhJsZEv8:ubփn39#F O`?py{}c58`j"=9,ؾ ^徭*&qUhɞu똘5IcanLlV} ,Ugt'$Ip/שat#H݇Qě!ctJR:+INNOi%;_)cR?΂:>8.QJս6z3&e,ux錁 ӀRW۽R6f0+!fUjQErW !uaWYM"dMbѯUF<{]y'mU%dc;tmO-Xz.!^D%"FsZI+vqF*?Wt6_󕙅maȑ@@ؒ@PV]p+fVbDK48u$`6x[i3fn~^{h`?{͕Vd1U0?.akIg66,;$u`yrϫ*¼J _|;{r|/?LMO!Dw,:̊&Q]bmH*O%mj,U5٧%)آ/h)yXj>w4rp,D=͡nUkvCЉN/" [ .dȢq7әz_ҊLX.vɢv#9z5GB Fh~f)vhbje`WE"2g#`Wgšt#;Wef|L޶ !Ehڮ7]um`*D%-eo]"?R/M 7 In-{Lyruj`gvgN݇6^<]YOjl#]{2׽9+KwZA r??bc̛lpEK퓢%h@O͊+<HC)p⵷ 3EA(5V'P?5(N(Шt(?z& a ?%RU*!Ty(xIP-_8aJ Z\1Z‚[&UMvTg&i8Vm)N7V|ԥ_a ByS fQ ŵFU})D*U(SHLtbgI e_ ΄I68A ';}CƝ߶򌓢?Mn//f;=4j]j8zvy<_'૝/L$q^;Zj3ůR\wPbrI 3՟-+WGb5)Ç y1`Ġ !Z;.N\Y +nzB5ݻ$h< 2YO,Q)%>AFh g'sRk/:x}=g򾂠PTɔ@?7 ]98Pe.NUI,@ _%#J+wd zt@eZE?4us  Nj哃ڧ80!!Y̺4l`nc> {.I/l_ D|@ͣTY_N{+WidSy| =|ɰ[ \ @6ľ 7Řyi):[z~O<-_S{'a`@3r=kS{ΰBwgL@܁nhx wpTy|tRd%;,m鷄F:Ef,a6ɡuSY黴jߣԑցeiVff=j +>GpQL&qj)$_ە 8sP%I-̃i+GXErKL35k4!jb"PT,Q!ܦ+%nr%v{BV6zSK |ۑxϹK/l+')O-K`S2AohK+HNC-a[@NX/5P^p0'*i%*ZrTYDS0*!#& ?M.8 @N'c ]mLM01x7k@ Vpsgּٙ8Eu>&j+ y36y 힜=&㫹1P\P_뷒{nQT#[%<+JV|тx:T}%!gׯM_UUZ| |ԝ^gehw鶼8: pkIEyX#Úwl; snh9%еw)';!ݲcqbdFFQ 0}Dmu/ C4ZJ[4Zsd0fo|3(-FzO%e]$"c$Ųna=阅SԒ9:\y'Y-6E[թ/l 8bZ\v\Nl>T`nMOsylWqy!ܪhO.y8bD,&ޢ2&TtDX g2Bw0 dG}&[̱<:Pq}A3bu$9hvF;D/1%N?xZb_IM]1whb_ja[YoKJcDe5l1;M8%(FׁiתxNSbͫ65O]"iI80;M9ZmLhd&eeCyp;%Qlh[o\̶袢.с)q| s/h*Ėo;,_;1^E!NO6Gh64w#?b1QL={DԨ"w8-"eK+nxyB@n9]tOL0}X gcmqDSgm/UX SW+[`!i A]8)KsK_35d 9$Rb:*ƛP%]hAa;M>7ŵWӾ-?qqLy"Hzyf]{T7wEN&71-q?TVmYxWURzZĴ BcB/JuiqDhʎes.]V"'JǝNE,)a w,-={BtHsV^54d(8DoulhIfA5.sO@]/ җNl/bR AoV@Iw6Ƣc8Il=Vc,]r3Hԃ4w{MHFK;` R&ȼ+AZOۃZE(յŜhGZ@MuVj{SxIt2ri9i`>a R2p(qUm_'_\V½[@ \˫cU^t2 ĩЍz}hW;9dMvҠȲ8(M`9 2`iΝ5pbqx4xg+JG3[GZ,e!N5Y+z!%NEo ^C/{tLM/kTE4p85K{H\c~p%{e-vEj^i84<C=|Q]Π^mK1"9+T4$c41/SN{GfM%ް-EL I>afe[m|c$t))Gx`v8~ёM)s³9HaNeŽ>0û :}})cϦ{ۿW?(=!>d(4 {`sc n̢;,t.])b+" I[4O#MiQL;%,obrh"[S4r}ڻQuwzr>i aY.!p%ڴU; @dq )-ԗmx! n{Y~K# [eI$oP qobjWYi7 8扣\bPd;PaGai):mY"^Qߟ|Fg|s8gq&9s?$xDwDa>$M>/=.mSrzڊ Bvpwc/b'JeQu9leZj`l#q;*^}^i@"ku"G]RO  a%!A~8uo6 iC׉j04:Mp',f41b.c6EӚTE$,x('xw ~l'@! Z9"%u5lwL @Y[d[@K9nxL=L<1ܵ^cƙ@bJG= L;ާ3/>^(-q`ļEpD5 )<ט֑Sq3ɺ!o퟊!"+w4)wɺe] 2^ {.O@DDU}EOC3$"Xus;¦WY^SؾketbsAnqDŽ1z#­բPbXߧ1>$.KOi>%kGoSN  i?*Y kCv!,<8ƿ/ zS9H>)I> G&?yO`b|Ԣ3FT ,Pʧ=g/f-h6n*0K[I&I>02"}ߣ^~:M{"x>T*$xs݀&nsOT3<\.gβm5ɻp7sEsEb3&r-|haLD&~aA.4],xbܻ\Av!;,p0~ 5鷠T=z;Z|g)ꚣt;J2R.sͤ#]#wjDdKWAIC`wv1i i.[Y9Tm/H6howהVxBone(coM34 '`FE2kP,N7Θ ]5jĩ,!c3%fkfh䱾"1 ݛM]L3߸-9#ྀ.oe闛h rb|?:(T5Kn$te(]0Rj;QL6ڟ瓗PyynV̏0bpGeցFiP1.{*HN,ⷢF̺jL]&cQ & ~(L/3qkM >)bԾx.UHL#id~G!z LDN2AƝ(pK,2MNhTvI=SEƅOsw}9z$oMQ-*)Խ, B.߯¿+-.fgb/R^VT}ReNSTTY>ey-#*j+샘C^btLJ<3 b{͋<:PQ]0]Me9wq3QZEO=12Jg,sA!A0%x=}IEt (b h8 ; < \}'2T 3IzUp }?e:4Y}kK_FLSdUl?|_uzOVHvSH_oshvvХAMo+z~]J@\Z<0SXTj6^H59Ɏs)}^aNYOaI r9aѿP# Y#\OdG/{9RU2 /6Vy`Rk;ecpRMI9es8t֋Pfx&E.:NS)+Ʃbt+L'*ѡ2Nq#y>u`iv1+ 4vLᩴWtƳ\#3_SӽءE7@݈$&[A.KE؉!S)G{-$9gb`Ϝx┿ ;xC(M[Z=$^ɳ:Z8x+7qL}2h< UׅoBIxbdLLr],ڿ*(_=I"Yq CboȀ*nNɔ6VŒ=0t`_LforAQ t;ij~QұR%2؃oέs= mn_1m:E-kk1 XOz6cՌgfU̮ыG}VkRP_Fc+`x"=SE"59cclFS-;@.c:oC݊$0X?n8^ Rq$׷xC?K,)5sS~!㇂*\E/X~o}ozy1?AYW8E=2sLA>yOT]]TJTܺڵ6R|b.*T i,*@St0g]+YqE*'A) !fiI[?؋fwLn9aNדWm(/wo*%-([-mՎcZG-fy]^^Q"K? o&PAL̈́~[':[PikRd]d_}v=BעXFxs'asP$kĩYF ;O0݁˩
Enjoying the preview?