Note that this schedule does not list all the assignments; other assignments
are made in class.
AD = Oxford Book of American Detective Stories
MS = Murderous Schemes: An Anthology of Classic Detective Stories
May 10 (Thurs)
May 11 (Fri)
- Introduction to Course, Syllabus
- Defining the Mystery
- Film: The Hound of Baskerville
- Author Reports
May 14 (Mon)
- Readings:
- Poe, "Thou Art the Man," MS pp 347-361
- Doyle, "The Adventure of the Dying Detective," MS pp 362-377
- Christie, "The Blue Geranium" MS pp 206-220
- Queen, "The Adventure of Abraham Lincoln's Clue," AD pp 587-601
- Crafting the Mystery - Mystery Story Assignment
May 15 (Tues)
- Author Reports Due
- Readings:
- Chesterton, "The Secret Garden" MS pp 69-87
- Sayers, "The Necklace of Pearls" MS pp 88-89
- Christie, The Mousetrap
- Christie, Ten Little Indians
May 16 (Weds)
- Readings:
- Perry, The Cater Street Hangman
- Film: Dial M for Murder
- Writing about the Mystery
- Final Paper Assignment
May 17 (Thurs)
- Readings:
- Carr, "The Locked Room Lecture" (handout)
- Futrelle, "The Problem of Cell 13" AD pp 49-80
- Carr, "The Shadow of the Goat" MS pp 9-27
- Hoch, "The Leopold Locked Room" MS pp 40-58
- Hoch, "Christmas Is for Cops" AD pp 608-620
May 18 (Fri)
- Readings:
- Stout, "The Affair of the Twisted Scarf" MS 238-284
- Gardner, "Leg Man" AD pp 262-294
- Hammett, "They Can Only Hang You Once" MS pp 99-112
- Bellem, "Homicide Highball" AD pp 375-413
- Film: The Maltese Falcon
May 21 (Mon)
- Readings:
- Muller, "Benny's Space" AD pp 665-682
- Grafton, "The Parker Shotgun" AD pp 639-654
- Barnes, "Lucky Penny" AD pp 621-638
- McBain, "Small Homicide" AD pp 499-511
May 22 (Tues)
- Mystery Stories Due
- Readings:
- Brewer, Lonely Street
- Film: Vertigo
May 23 (Weds)
- Readings:
- Woolrich, "Rear Window" AD pp 326-354
- Green, "Missing: Page Thirteen" AD pp 93-123
- Eberhart, "Spider" AD 239-260
- Rinehart, "The Lipstick" AD pp 356-374
May 24 (Thurs)
- Readings:
- Hornung, "A Costume Piece" MS pp 127-142
- Suter, "The Impossible Theft" MS 143-156
- Brett, "Don't Know Much About Art" MS pp 157-181
- Film: The Thomas Crown Affair
May 25 (Fri)
- Readings:
- Harte, "The Stolen Cigar Case" AD pp 40-48
- Brittain, "The Man Who Read John Dickson Carr" MS pp 59-66
- Westlake, "The Ultimate Caper" MS pp 182-186
- Poetry (handout)
- Review for Final
- Final Papers Due
- Final Exam