Can you recommend some key works in a history of crime fiction?

Sure. 'The Silent Patient' was quite popular in 2019. It had the elements of noir with a dark and mysterious plot revolving around a patient who had committed a heinous crime and then went silent.

Sure. 'The Devotion of Suspect X' by Keigo Higashino is a great one. It has a brilliant plot with unexpected twists. The main character's devious plan to create an alibi for the suspect is really mind - boggling.

There's 'The Cellist' which is also part of Croatian crime fiction. It often delves deep into the Croatian society and its unique cultural aspects while presenting a thrilling mystery. The characters are well - developed and the plot is full of twists and turns that keep the readers engaged.

A relatively lesser - known but still interesting piece of Kenyan crime fiction is 'Murder in Mombasa'. It takes place in Mombasa and weaves a story full of mystery and local flavor. The author does a great job of incorporating the local culture and the unique challenges of crime - solving in that area. 'Crime in the Rift Valley' is also a good read, as it showcases the different elements of crime that can occur in the Rift Valley region of Kenya, with its own set of characters and plot twists.

Sure. 'The Big Sleep' by Chandler is a classic. It features the famous detective Philip Marlowe and has a complex plot filled with mystery and intrigue.

One well - known work that has elements of telegraph crime fiction is Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories. Although not solely focused on the telegraph, it was a common means of communication in those times, and Holmes often received important messages via telegraph that were crucial to his investigations. Another example could be some of the dime novels from the late 19th century that incorporated the use of telegraph in their crime - related plots.

There's also 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' by Stieg Larsson. It combines elements of mystery, crime, and thriller. The main character, Lisbeth Salander, is a very unique and engaging figure, and the overall story delves deep into a complex web of crimes and secrets.

Sure. 'The Lake Murder' is a well - known work in Hubin crime fiction. It has a complex plot full of twists and turns.

Sure. 'The Silence of the Lambs' is a classic in this regard. It has a strong detective - like figure in Clarice Starling and the terrifying criminal in Hannibal Lecter. The story is a mix of a hunt for a serial killer (crime aspect) and the psychological cat - and - mouse game between the two main characters. Another work is 'Sharp Objects' which combines a mystery about a series of murders in a small town with a deep - dive into the troubled psyche of the main character, who is also involved in the investigation.

One key milestone was the creation of the detective figure. As I said before, Poe's Dupin was one of the first. This character type became central to crime fiction. Another milestone was the serialization of detective stories in newspapers and magazines, which increased their popularity. It made the stories more accessible to the general public.