The Golden Age of Detective Fiction is the period of mystery fiction set in the 1920s-1930s. The plots revolve around upper class characters and murder. It centers around the dichotomy between the elegance of the European elite and the savagery and blood that comes with the events of the story. Feelings of suspense, interesting characters with different backgrounds, and glamorous settings are major components of this aesthetic.
History[]
The characters in these mystery stories are often members of the British landed gentry, or else their servants. Although England is the most common setting, these mysteries can take place in any part of the British Empire, such as India or Australia. Although the time period is usually between the 1920s and 1930s, the popularity of the genre led to it being adapted to suit more modern times. Activities such as hunting, cocktail parties, and travel via ship and steam train remained largely unchanged for several decades that followed.
Exotic elements, such as the story taking place in jungles or deserts, tropical animals, and non-European artifacts can also be incorporated due to the British Empire's influence. Many stories revolve around characters who are colonial authorities, explorers, archaeologists, and travelers. Please note that because of the time period, the depictions of the native people are often ignored or racist due to the prejudice of the time period.
The visual and story tropes arose from the popularity of authors such as Agatha Christie. Many mystery writers that followed were inspired by the works of these earlier writers, and certain elements of the plot, the settings, and character types are repeated by mystery writers to this day. Parodies of this aesthetic can also be found in more recent works, such as the game Clue, and the Doctor Who episode, "The Unicorn and the Wasp."
Elements of works from the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, such as the female amateur detective and tightly knit community of characters influenced the Cozy Mystery genre. These mysteries are sometimes seen as formulaic and over-done but are popular among those who prefer "clean" mysteries where violence is of screen, there is very little profanity, and sex is usually not even discussed. The Cozy Mystery genre is not limited to the time period of the 1920s-1930s, although some mysteries are set during that time period.
A lot of the imagery is connected with Gothic literature and horror, but the main story and visual component is free of supernatural components in favor of showing the motives of the criminals that started the events of the plot. The nobility being the perpetrator can also serve as a critique of their over-indulgence and greed. It also shares visual tropes and some story components with Dark Academia, but does not involve learning and explicitly takes place among non-students. Some of the tropes, such as troubled detectives and the Femme Fatale evolved to re-appear in noir aesthetics.
Visuals[]
- Antique rifles
- Blood
- Cigars and smoking
- Decor typical of aristocratic houses, such as suits of armor and portraits
- Dinner parties, with multiple courses and traditionally wealthy foods such as Beef Wellington and foie grois
- Detective paraphernalia such as magnifying glasses and fingerprint powder
- Egyptian artifacts
- Exotic animals such as jaguars and lions, often used as "murder weapon"
- Fashionable clothing and jewelry indicative of the upper class, i.e. pearls
- Hunting paraphernalia such as taxidermy, hunting dogs, and tranquilizer darts
- Leather-bound books and private libraries
- Liquor, a good medium for poison and blurred memories
- Manor houses, often in remote areas
- Oak paneled walls
- Oriental rugs
- Puzzle boxes and hidden rooms
- Poison
- Secret messages
- Steam engine trains
- Storms
- Swords, knives, and daggers
- Unspecified "oriental" artifacts, often Turkish, Indian, or Chinese
Typical Character Types[]
- Academics
- Adventurers, typically clad in pith helmets and the "colonizer uniform"
- Businessmen, either stuffy or hedonistic
- Butlers, servants, and maids. "The butler did it!" is a common accusation
- Femme fatales
- "Great Detective" such as Hercule Poirot. Note that this can remove some suspense. (Please note that Sherlock Holmes is 1890s and does not fit)
- Military authority
- Minority who is either sidelined or stereotyped and portrayed as foreign and uncivilized
- Nobility and the landed gentry
- Widows whose husbands disappeared under mysterious circumstances
- Italian Mafia, Yakuza, and other organized crime syndicates (Irish mob, Russian Mafia, Triad, etc.)
Activities[]
- Archaeology
- Archery
- Chases and escapes
- Darts
- Deduction
- Fencing
- Hunting (humans included)
- Interrogation
- Searching for clues
Media[]
Authors, Playwrights, etc.[]
- Agatha Christie
- Edward Gorey, who does not write true mysteries or thrillers, but employs this aesthetic
- Mary Roberts Rinehart
Comic Books[]
- Some aspects of Batman, specifically storylines involving Bruce Wayne, Ra's al Ghul, and The Court of Owls
- Tintin
Films[]
Please do not include film adaptations of other works
- An Inspector Calls (2015)
- Bees Make Honey (2017)
- Gosford Park (2001)
- Knives Out (2019)
- The Cat’s Meow (2001)
- Chinatown (1974)
Literature and Short Stories[]
This does not include works done by the authors previously mentioned
- A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. Like Gorey, aesthetic only.
- High Society Lady Detective series by Sara Rosett
- Lord Peter Wimsey series by Dorothy L. Sayers
- Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries by Kerry Greenwood
- Nancy Drew stories
- "The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell
- Why Shoot a Butler? by Georgette Heyer
- Inspectors Hannasyde & Hemingway series by Georgette Heyer
Table-top Games[]
- Clue (1949)
TV and Web Series[]
- Alta Mar (High Seas) (2019-2020)
- Dancing on the Edge (2013)
- Edgar Allan Poe's Murder Mystery Dinner Party (2016)
- Frankie Drake Mysteries (2017-2021)
- Heer & Meester (Lord and Master) (2014-2016)
- The Mrs Bradley Mysteries (1998-2000)
- "The Unicorn and the Wasp" and "Mummy on the Orient Express" (Doctor Who episodes)
- Mystery! (1980-present)
- Twin Peaks (1990-1991) plays with tropes of the golden age of detective fiction.
Visual Novels[]
- Umineko no Naku Koro Ni (2007)
Music[]
Gallery[]
