The Origins of the American Detective Story

This volume traces the development of American detective fiction and its evolution from the nineteenth to the twentieth century. Panek explores factors that contributed to it, such as the popularity of Sherlock Holmes, the rise and fall of the police and detectives in society, the publication of treatises on criminality, the birth of "crusading" newspaper reporters, the beginning of forensic science, and changes in rules of evidence and judicial procedures. He also discusses the role of women and other characters. Panek (English, McDaniel College) has written several books about crime fiction. Annotation c2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

LeRoy Lad Panek, professor emeritus of English at McDaniel College (and “One of the most readable, prolific, and perceptive academic scholars of mystery fiction”—Mystery Scene), is the author of a number of books about detective fiction. He lives in Westminster, Maryland.