The Murders in the Rue Morgue [short story]

While I typically love locked room mysteries, and I don't mind not being given enough clues to fully solve a locked room mystery for myself, I really disliked the way this one ended. It was a completely unexpected twist (since I have somehow managed to avoid spoilers for it) and left a very bad taste in my mouth for the story. However, I do appreciate this for what it was: probably the inspiration for Sherlock Holmes, as well as the first detective story. The language is more dated than I expected, and I didn't like it nearly as much as I remember liking Poe's other works. Not one I need to revisit, though I'm glad to have read it the once.

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 show more 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. show less

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 show more 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. show less

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

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.

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 show more quick read. show less

a real disappointment. the beginning was an utter slog and unrelated to the story, and then the story was just the solving of a locked room mystery in the most outrageous way possible, which i just found incredibly annoying.