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Basic Crime Fiction Trivia Quiz

This is a quiz on the basics of Crime Fiction. I studied this genre at school and thought I'd make an easy quiz on it.

A multiple-choice quiz by Fi B. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Fi B

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
100,827

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
10 / 15

Plays
1451

Last 3 plays: Guest 103 (0/15), gracious1 (13/15), Guest 58 (5/15).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Who was the world's first literary detective? Hint

Hercule Poirot

Sherlock Holmes

C Auguste Dupin

Dr Watson

NEXT>

Question 2 of 15

2. Who is known as the Queen of Crime? Hint

Dorothy L Sayers

Dame Agatha Christie

Miss Jane Marple

Dame Edna Everage

NEXT>

Question 3 of 15

3. Which of the following is NOT a Sherlock Holmes story? Hint

'The Mysterious Affair At Styles'

'The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier'

'A Study in Scarlet'

'The Hound of the Baskervilles'

NEXT>

Question 4 of 15

4. What is 'The Red-Headed League' about? Hint

a mysterious killer in the forest that turns out to be a red-haired dog

Australian red-headed rugby league players

a planned bank robbery

a murder committed by a secret society

NEXT>

Question 5 of 15

5. Where does Miss Marple live? Hint

Belgium

the Village

St. Mary Mead

221B Baker Street, London

NEXT>

Question 6 of 15

6. Tom Stoppard is a satirical playwright. In 1968 he wrote a play that satirises detective fiction (the Country House sub genre). It is called 'The Real Inspector _____' Hint

Is Here

Hound

Arrives

Saves the Day

NEXT>

Question 7 of 15

7. Christie's popular 'Ten Little Niggers' was also known as what? Hint

'Ten Little Indians'

they didn't change the title

'And Then There Were None'

both of these

NEXT>

Question 8 of 15

8. A popular courtroom drama writer is Grisham. What is his first name?

Answer: (4 letters)

NEXT>

Question 9 of 15

9. Whose femme fatale villain buster is Stephanie Plum? Hint

Ruth Rendell

Dorothy L Sayers

Patricia Cornwall

Janet Evanovich

NEXT>

Question 10 of 15

10. John Le Carre wrote which book of political intrigue? Hint

James Bond: Goldfinger

Austin Powers: Goldmember

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me

The Spy Who Came in From the Cold

NEXT>

Question 11 of 15

11. David Guterson's 'Snow Falling On Cedars' has a similar racial context to what? Hint

'The Firm'

none of these

'The Rainmaker'

'Hercule Poirot's Christmas'

NEXT>

Question 12 of 15

12. Emily Rodda wrote which one of these children's mystery series? Hint

'The Secret Seven'

'Trixie Belden'

'Teen Power Inc'

'The Famous Five'

NEXT>

Question 13 of 15

13. A trick question: Which of these series did not have any special mystery editions? Hint

'The Baby-Sitters Club'

'Sweet Valley Kids'

'Goosebumps'

'Sweet Valley Twins'

NEXT>

Question 14 of 15

14. Complete the title of this 'Teen Power Inc' book: 'The Ghost of Raven _____' Hint

Hill

Heights

High

Strikes

NEXT>

Question 15 of 15

15. An easy one to finish off. Complete this quote: 'Elementary, my dear _______'

Answer: (One Word)

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 12 2024 : Guest 103: 0/15
Apr 03 2024 : gracious1: 13/15
Mar 29 2024 : Guest 58: 5/15
Mar 24 2024 : Guest 90: 9/15
Mar 22 2024 : Guest 81: 8/15
Mar 05 2024 : Guest 103: 6/15
Feb 29 2024 : Guest 168: 7/15
Feb 29 2024 : Guest 78: 12/15
Feb 26 2024 : Guest 46: 7/15

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who was the world's first literary detective?

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.

2. Who is known as the Queen of Crime?

Answer: Dame Agatha Christie

Christie wrote 79 crime fiction books, and a few other books under psuedonyms. Marple was one of Christie's detectives, Sayers was another prolific crime fiction novelist, and Dame Edna Everage is the alter ego of comedian Barry Humphries.

3. Which of the following is NOT a Sherlock Holmes story?

Answer: 'The Mysterious Affair At Styles'

'The Mysterious Affair At Styles' was an Agatha Christie book, the first that featured Hercule Poirot.

4. What is 'The Red-Headed League' about?

Answer: a planned bank robbery

This was written by Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes solves the mystery. 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!

5. Where does Miss Marple live?

Answer: St. Mary Mead

She was part of a close-knit society. Poirot came from Belgium, but everyone always said to him: "I always thought you were French!" which irritated him. Holmes lived at 221B Baker Street.

6. Tom Stoppard is a satirical playwright. In 1968 he wrote a play that satirises detective fiction (the Country House sub genre). It is called 'The Real Inspector _____'

Answer: Hound

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

7. Christie's popular 'Ten Little Niggers' was also known as what?

Answer: both of these

This was done mainly to suit the American readers, who might have been offended by 'niggers'. 'Ten Little Indians' is also what the stage production based on the book was known as (but it had a different ending).

8. A popular courtroom drama writer is Grisham. What is his first name?

Answer: John

Writer of such books as 'The Rainmaker', 'A Time to Kill', 'The Firm', 'The Client', and so on. Most of his better books have been made into movies.

9. Whose femme fatale villain buster is Stephanie Plum?

Answer: Janet Evanovich

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

10. John Le Carre wrote which book of political intrigue?

Answer: The Spy Who Came in From the Cold

The others 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.

11. David Guterson's 'Snow Falling On Cedars' has a similar racial context to what?

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 'A Time to Kill' are both Grisham novels, and 'Hercule Poirot's Christmas' is by Christie.

12. Emily Rodda wrote which one of these children's mystery series?

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.

13. A trick question: Which of these series did not have any special mystery editions?

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'.

14. Complete the title of this 'Teen Power Inc' book: 'The Ghost of Raven _____'

Answer: Hill

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

15. An easy one to finish off. Complete this quote: 'Elementary, my dear _______'

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.

Source: Author Fi B

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor nerthus before going online.
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