Basic Crime Fiction Trivia Quiz

Answer: C Auguste Dupin

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

Answer: Dame Agatha Christie

Christie wrote 66 crime fiction novels and a number of short story collections, as well as a few other books under pseudonyms. Jane Marple was one of Christie's detectives, Dorothy L. Sayers was another prolific crime fiction novelist, and Dame Edna Everage is the alter ego of Australian comedian Barry Humphries.

Answer: The Mysterious Affair At Styles

"The Mysterious Affair at Styles" was Agatha Christie's first published book, as well as the first that featured Hercule Poirot.

Answer: A planned bank robbery

In this story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes solves the mystery. The incorrect answer option regarding the 'dog' plot is similar to that of 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' and, to a lesser extent, 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue'. I wish it were about red-headed league players!

Answer: St. Mary Mead

Miss Marple was part of a close-knit society in the village of St Mary Mead. Poirot came from Belgium, but he was frequently mistaken as being French, which irritated him. Sherlock Holmes lived at 221B Baker Street.

Answer: Hound

Perhaps to also draw attention to Doyle's 'The Hound of the Baskervilles'. It also makes fun of theatre critics.

Answer: And Then There Were None

The four answer options are Agatha Christie's best-selling of all her novels. In order, from first to fourth, they are "And Then There Were None", "Murder on the Orient Express", "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" and "The ABC Murders".

"And Then There Were None" is acknowledged to be the best-selling mystery novel of all time. Its original title was "Ten Little Niggers", based on an old English nursery rhyme of that title. The racist word was acceptable language in England and many other countries in 1939, but not in America, so it was published there in 1940 as "And Then There Were None" (which is the last line of that same nursery rhyme). Thankfully, over the years, the alternative title has replaced the original on a world-wide basis because the terminology used originally is highly offensive.

Answer: John

John Grisham is an American lawyer who has written many legal thrillers. Many of his books have been made into movies, including "The Firm" (1993), "The Pelican Brief" (1993), "The Client" (1994), "A Time to Kill" (1996), "The Chamber" (1996), "The Rainmaker" (1997), and "Runaway Jury" (2003).

Answer: Janet Evanovich

Stephanie Plum is a bounty hunter from Trenton, New Jersey, and first appears in 'One For the Money'.

Answer: The Spy Who Came in From the Cold

The incorrect answer options are all movies. I didn't think many people would know the book, so I just made it easy to guess. Surprisingly, it is a really good book, even for a spy story.

Answer: None of these

It is actually similar to Harper Lee's classic 'To Kill A Mockingbird'. Both novels are about a racist society: white vs. black in 'To Kill A Mockingbird' and American vs. Japanese in 'Snow Falling On Cedars'. 'The Firm' and 'The Rainmaker' are both Grisham novels, and 'Hercule Poirot's Christmas' is by Agatha Christie.

Answer: Teen Power Inc

The 'Trixie Belden' series was written by Kathryn Kenny, and 'The Famous Five' and 'The Secret Seven' were both written by Enid Blyton.

Answer: Goosebumps

Written by R.L. Stine, they were ALL mysteries. Francine Pascal wrote both the 'Sweet Valley' series, and Ann M. Martin wrote 'The Baby-Sitters Club'.

Answer: Hill

Written by Emily Rodda, it was the first in the 'Teen Power Inc' series, set in the imaginary suburb of Raven Hill.

Answer: Watson

Sherlock Holmes always said this to Dr Watson during the movie versions of Doyle's works. He never actually said it in the books, but it a well known saying nonetheless. He said it to his inferior sidekick whenever he solved a case.