Mystery & Detective Fiction Trivia

1. The First Commandment of Mystery Writing states that the murderer must be introduced in the early part of the story and the reader cannot know what about the killer?

From Quiz The Ten Commandments of Mystery Writing

Answer: His inner thoughts

Introducing the murderer early in the novel (usually within the first quarter of the book at least) is essential because Knox believed the reader must have a fair opportunity to guess the killer's identity. The reader is not likely to suspect someone who only debuts late into the story. In addition, the reader cannot know the murderer's inner thoughts because those thoughts might reveal too much about the killer's ideas and strongly hint at their identity. The writer also cannot lie about what the killer is thinking because that would provide a false narrative to the story. Most mystery novelists are very faithful to this commandment. However, it is not uncommon in the grittier or more hard-boiled stories to have the main culprit be someone introduced later in the novel if at all prior to their reveal as the killer.

From Quiz J D Robb 'In Death' Characters

Answer: Mavis Freestone

The two of them met when Dallas was a junior cadet at the Police Academy and arrested Mavis for shoplifting. Mavis began singing in clubs and in later books, with the help of Rourke, Eve's husband, becomes a major music star with an extremely individual taste in fashion.

From Quiz Classic Mystery/Crime Stories

Answer: Dr. Charlotte Manning, the psychiatrist

Mickey Spillane's real name was Frank Morrison Spillane from Brooklyn, NY. "I, the Jury" was written in 1947, and introduced private investigator Mike Hammer. In "I, the Jury", Dr. Manning gets involved with a crime ring. When Officer Williams suspects Dr. Manning of criminal behavior, she kills him. But that is not the end of the story. More murder is on the way.

From Quiz Scandinavian Crime

Answer: David Lagercrantz

The early death of Stieg Larson in 2004 of heart attack at the age of 50 left readers wanting for more. The enormous international success of the "Millennium Series" prompted the publishers to continue the series. The book written by David Lagercrantz, "The Girl in the Spider's Web", was published in 2015.

From Quiz From Page to Screen

Answer: Inspector Morse

John Thaw and Kevin Whately starred as Morse and Lewis in this long running series. Colin Dexter was awarded the Crime Writers Association "Cartier Diamond Dagger" for outstanding services to crime literature in 1997.

From Quiz Crime at Christmas

Answer: Hercule Poirot

The book is 1938's 'Hercule Poirot's Christmas' by Agatha Christie. The murder takes place in an English country house where all of Simeon's extended family (who all have very good reasons for wanting him dead), and a number of suspicious visitors, have gathered for Christmas. The proliferation of suspects, and the fact the victim was found in a room that was locked from the inside, means Poirot certainly has his work cut out for him!

From Quiz Killed - HOW ?

Answer: A sugar hammer

The sugar hammer, bought at a village jumble sale, hung openly on the wall of the house where Poirot was staying with Mrs Maureen Summerhayes, a somewhat scatty landlady. The title of the book is taken from a children's game.

From Quiz Black Heart of Crime

Answer: Black Cherry Blues

James Lee Burke is a well-known mystery writer living in Louisiana. He is best known for his "Dave Robicheaux" series. Robicheaux is a deputy sheriff in the New Iberia, Louisiana police department. He is a recovering alcoholic, Vietnam War veteran, and is subject to depression and nightmares. An unlikely detective, he has been a successful crime-solver through many novels. Burke won a 1990 Edgar for "Black Cherry Blues" (Best Novel of the Year), a 1998 Edgar for "Cimarron Rose", featuring Billy Bob Holland, another memorable Burke character, and a Grand Master Award in 2009.

From Quiz Mystery Mistresses

Answer: Donna Andrews

All these authors tend to use titles containing something in common. Donna Andrews (born 1967) is the correct answer. Besides the titles I gave in the question, I could also mention "We'll Always Have Parrots" (2004) and "The Penguin Who Knew Too Much" (2008). All these novels feature the blacksmith Meg Langslow and her dad, who loves to protect all kinds of birds. Kate Collins has something with flowers, as shown in the titles of her series "Flower Shop Mysteries": "Slay It with Flowers" (2005), "Dearly Depotted" (2005) and "Acts of Violets" (2007), to name a few of these. Kate Charles is interested in a clerical setting for crime. This predilection shows in her anthologies "Unholy Orders: Mysteries with a Religious Twist" (2000) and "Murder Most Catholic" (2002). Laurien Berenson is frequently inspired by dogs. Some titles: "A Pedigree to Die For" (1994), "Dog Eat Dog" (1996) and "Jingle Bell Bark" (2004).

From Quiz Characters In Current Works Of Fiction

Answer: Robert Crais

This pair are outrageously great. We meet Elvis Cole and Joe Pike in 1987 in Crais' "The Monkey's Raincoat". Cole, the main character in this novel is a Corvette driving PI in LA. His friend Joe Pike finally takes the clear lead in "The Watchman" published in 2007. Pike is a mysterious and quiet character. Both of these characters are well drawn and entertaining. You know that they are honorable men and great friends. Not unlike Robert Parker's Spenser and his Hawk or, dare I say, Ralph Kramden and Ed Norten from the old TV show "The Honeymooners" these men are memorable as individuals but even better as a pair.

From Quiz You Too Can Be an Armchair Detective!

Answer: J.D. Robb

J.D. Robb is really the best-selling author Nora Roberts. Her alias comes from the first initials of her two children and a shortened version of her last name. The characters of Eve and Roarke began in 1995 with "Naked In Death". Throughout the series, J.D. Robb has added colorful characters and secretive pasts to make this a best selling series.

From Quiz Detecting Sidekicks

Answer: Joe Pike

While providing the muscle, and fear of God factor, in numerous adventures with Elvis Cole, Joe Pike finally got a title role in 2007 as "The Watchman".

From Quiz Crime Does Pay (for These Authors Anyway)!

Answer: Edgar Allan Poe

Poe produced 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue' (1841) which was a short story featuring the fictional detective Monsieur C. Auguste Dupin. Many consider this to be the first crime novel (although some others have been argued for). Poe followed this up with two other Dupin stories during the 1840s.

From Quiz Murder They Wrote

Answer: Arthur Conan Doyle

Arthur Conan Doyle, 1859-1930, created Sherlock Holmes, the deerstalker-wearing, pipe-smoking sleuth we all so easily picture. So well known did Holmes become, that the word 'Sherlock' is now applied, often facetiously, to any investigator. In one case, Holmes and his deadly enemy, Professor Moriarty, fell to their deaths off a waterfall. The fans were outraged and Conan Doyle had to bring him back to life for further adventures. Holmes first appeared in print in 1887 and featured in four novels, 56 short stories and numerous movies.

From Quiz Edgar Award Winning Authors

Answer: James Patterson

James Patterson was CEO of J. Walter Thompson USA, an NY advertising firm, while he wrote over a dozen best selling books. His last 16 books have sales of over one billion dollars.

From Quiz Cooking Up a Suspense Story

Answer: The murderer is killed at the murder scene.

The story "Full Circle" is interesting in how the ending of the story is a reflection of the beginning of the story--with one big twist! Sue Grafton is well known for her alphabetical dectective titles as in "A is for Alibi", "B is for Burglar", "C is for Corpse", and so on.

From Quiz Mystery cats

Answer: Jim Qwilleran

Lillian J. Braun has been writing about the two clever Siamese since 1966. They star in over twenty "The Cat Who..." mysteries.

From Quiz Culinary Mysteries

Answer: Virginia Rich

Additional titles in this series include 'The Baked Bean Supper Murders' and 'The Nantucket Diet Murders'.

From Quiz Other Characters of Detective Fiction

Answer: Bunter

Bunter was Peter's batman during the the Great War (aka, World War I), and afterwards served as valet and crime photographer. His first name, which rarely comes up, is Mervyn.

From Quiz So, Who Done It?

Answer: The Murders in the Rue Morgue

Edgar Allan Poe is widely considered the father of the mystery genre, which is why the Mystery Writers of America named their annual awards ceremony "the Edgars."

From Quiz Mayhem and Murder in Florida

Answer: Fort Lauderdale

Travis McGee parks his houseboat, the "Busted Flush", at slip F-18, Bahia Mar, Fort Lauderdale. The boat is not named after a broken toilet; he won it in a poker game.

From Quiz Mystery Fiction With a Sense of Humour

Answer: Robert L. Fish

In a series of short stories, many published in "Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine" Homes and Watney dash through the gas-lit streets of London, ignoring the obvious in search of the glaringly wrong conclusion. The stories have been collected in 1990's "Schlock Homes - the Complete Bagel Street Saga".

From Quiz Basic Crime Fiction

Answer: C Auguste Dupin

He first appeared in 'The Murders In the Rue Morgue' in 1841, written by Edgar Allan Poe. Holmes was the detective created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Dr Watson was Holmes' sidekick. Poirot was Agatha Christie's supersleuth.

From Quiz Murder in Fiction

Answer: Raskolnikov

Raskolnikov killed an elderly female pawnbroker and her sister. Rasputin was a real life monk who early in the century had considerable influence at the Czarist court. "The Idiot" is another Dostoyevsky novel. Potemkin was a real life 18th-century officer and politician.

From Quiz What's In A Name?

Answer: Leigh

Leigh was her mother's maiden name.

From Quiz Murder Most Fowl

Answer: Kaspar Guttman

The book was made into a 1941 movie starring Humphrey Bogart. The part of the Fat Man was played by Sidney Greenstreet, who was making his film debut. He was 61 at the time.

From Quiz History of the Detective Novel

Answer: The Murders in the Rue Morgue

Published in 1841, this story introduced the Parisian detective C. August Dupin.

From Quiz Pulp Fiction

Answer: Hollywood

Raymond Chandler was 50 when he wrote his first novel.

From Quiz Literary Murder

Answer: Dostoevsky

'Crime and Punishment'

From Quiz Hard-Boiled Lit:the sequel

Answer: Ring Twice

A friend of Cain's, screenwriter Vincent Lawrence, gave him the idea for the title, and Cain dedicated it to VL.

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Last Updated Jun 28 2025 5:44 AM

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