Origins of the Genre
The mystery genre is familiar to people from childhood, from Scooby-Doo cartoons and popular children's mystery book series. The genre as we know it today originated in the 19th century, but its origins go back further. The story commonly credited as the first modern detective story was The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe, published in 1841, and the first full length mystery novel was The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins, published in 1859. However, both of those stories draw on the earlier literary genre of the gothic novel.
Gothic literature evolved in Britain during the 18th century. Gothic literature was the forerunner of modern mystery, suspense, and horror genres, combining aspects of all three. Gothic novels were known for being darkly picturesque, having narratives that centered on mysterious and frightful happenings, exotic locations, sinister characters, hidden secrets, and frequently, supernatural elements. 18th century Gothic writers, such as Horace Walpole and Ann Radcliffe, inspired later writers, including Edgar Allan Poe.