This comprehensive historical survey of detective fiction features award-winning short stories, insight into the authors who wrote them, a discussion of the evolution of the genre, and significant literary criticism that provides new perspectives on the works.

Features:
. Organized thematically by the most popular categories of detective fiction: the Amateur Detective, the Private Investigator, and the Police. The works within each of these three sections are arranged chronologically so readers can trace how the genre has developed over time.
• A General Introduction and an Introduction to each of the three major sections provide background on the development and the conventions of detective fiction and make connections between the works in the anthology.
• Critical apparatus includes critical essays on the history and form of detective fiction and critical commentaries by the writers themselves.

The biographies include discussion of the authors' contributions to the genre of detective fiction, suggestions for further readings, and awards received by the authors.