Mystery Comparison

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Mystery Comparison

In the mystery stories The Murder at the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allen Poe and Kiss the Girls by James Patterson, there are differences in the storyline and style of presentation. Dealing with the plots and the way in which that the crimes are committed, are very contrasted in each book. When looking at the subject matter, the stories also differ in the manner that they are laid out, dealing with flashbacks and the order of events.

In Edgar Allen Poe's short story, "The Murders in the Rue Morgue", a classic detective story is played out in a busy Paris suburb. The story begins as the narrator meets Monsieur C. Auguste Dupin, a poor but well-educated young man. As they become close friends, they live together, departing rarely, each evening they take thoughtful strolls along the dark Paris streets. One night, Dupin stumbles upon a mystery taken right from the local newspaper, The Gazette. He reads of two recent murders with questionable motives and circumstances. However, the search for the murderer has proved unsuccessful. A series of eleven eyewitnesses, an assorted mix of occupations and cultures re-tell the murders of Madame and Mademoiselle L’Espanaye. However, they concur on one point. They all heard an indistinguishable voice "that of a foreigner" (Poe, pg. 185) and one of an angered Frenchman at the time of the murder. As the account of the last witness is registered, Dupin and the narrator decide to examine the apartment on the Rue Morgue for themselves. After collecting evidence and careful analysis, Dupin seems to have solved the murder beyond a shadow of a doubt. The strange circumstances lead Dupin to believe that the perpetrator could not have been human but of the animal kingdom. He accuses an Ourang-Outang of the killing, which for certain has escaped from a careless owner. This accounts for the grotesque methods of murder and the foreign "voice" that is heard at the scene of the crime. The angry Frenchman mentioned was the ape's owner, who discovered his pet's crime after it was too late. Dupin is correct in his accusation and places an ad in the Gazette for a found orangutan. The owner comes right to him, and the mystery is solved. "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" is a showcase of Poe's amazing writing style, and the short story is full of s...

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... starts two thirds into the book. Dr. Cross states at the police station, “Casanova and William Rudolph have the same John Hancock”, (Patterson, pg. 342) which lets the reader know who the real killer is. A suspenseful chase ensues and ends in a stand off between Cross and Rudolph. Detective Cross kills Rudolph, which in turn saves Kate. The final chapters are set up for the sequel, which Patterson has written, titled Along Came A Spider. The ending of a novel can either give the reader a sense of satisfaction or disappointment. Depending on the reader and the author, endings can be unpredictable or obvious from the start.

There are many differences in the storylines, the content and setup, as well as the endings of these two stories. The way that an author lays out his details can make a story enjoyable or unpleasant. Every author has his or her own writing style and gives the reader subtle hints into the investigation of mystery works of literature. The ability to attempt to solve the crimes as well as the getting to know the inner thoughts of the character in the story allows for more enjoyable reading. The fulfillment of a good story rests solely in the mind of the reader.

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