Written by Edgar Allan Poe

Published in 1841

Often considered the first "detective story," The Murders in the Rue Morgue observes how Dupin, an analytical man, solves two grisly murders in France. The reader follows his thought processes and is given many of the same clues as he is. Through deduction of the evidence and environment, Dupin figures out that an Ourang-Outang committed the murders.

Clues that Dupin uses to come to his conclusion include:

- a shrill voice that never actually says words

- a window that operates by springs that appears to be nailed shut (the nail is actually broken)

- the great agility that would be required to leap into the window

- the superhuman strength that would be required to beat Madame L'Espanaye as she was beaten

- the non-human hair that was removed from Madame L'Espanaye

- a ribbon knotted in a way that a naval officer would use

This story is an example of In media res, a Latin term used to describe stories that start in the middle.

Characters

Dupin-The the smart detective type whose careful attention to details and logical thinking solve the mystery.

The Narrator-The sidekick to the main lead. He is important because he sees the causality in the story and relates it back to the reader.

These characters are often perpetuated in other crime stories, eventually becoming the stereotypes we see today in stories such as Sherlock Holmes and Batman.

Full text available at Wikisource.