Reviews

The Murders in the Rue Morgue: The Dupin Tales, by Edgar Allan Poe, Matthew Pearl

bibliobethreads's review

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2.0

I really enjoyed the descriptive writing of Poe, but prefer stories like the Tell-Tale Heart, pure class!

apageinthestacks's review

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4.0

In terms of actual enjoyability, I'd rate this 3/5 or so. Perhaps it's my love of Poe in general or simply the fact that these stories had so much influence on the literary world (Doyle admits to having been inspired by these stories to write Sherlock Holmes, for example), but I felt an extra star was needed.

Though, on the subject of Doyle, that was my main problem--he simply did it better. Holmes is often seeped with details that Holmes goes on and on about (which is often very enjoyable), but this was ten times more of that. Poe created it, sure, but Doyle perfected it. These stories just got bogged down in them sometimes, and it hurt the storytelling.

pinkanddying's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

3.0

peskimo's review

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

nevermoreliterature's review against another edition

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3.0

Oh Poe, you silly brilliant goose.

These stories (precisely three in number) are some of the first ever detective fiction ever penned. These pre-date the term 'detective' itself. Hence, we get Auguste Dupin and his tales of Ratiocination.

Now I won't say, the stories are riveting tales of mystery and intrigue. They are very wordy. At times meandering over and over on the theology of crime and it's due deduction. Dupin all in all, is an armchair detective and the amount of action in the stories are negligible. But, one can definitely not discount the importance of these tales in the history of fiction.

C. Auguste Dupin walked so Sherlock Holmes could run.

Although, I was not absolutely impressed by the stories, Poe's writing here is quite satisfactory. I for once, enjoyed the dialogues. The effect these dialogues have on later detective fiction is all but evident. Dupin has that habit of giving into dramatic revelations, and revel in the carnage his words cause. Something duly criticised by Mr. Sherlock Holmes himself in 'The Study of Scarlet'. One vain pompous (consulting) detective to another, I guess.

Well, I wish we got some more Dupin. In the meantime, curse and praise the silly brilliant goose.

3/5

aldbera's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.5

abi_collingsx's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark informative mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Edgar Allan Poe needs to admit he’s gay 

carolinareads's review

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mysterious medium-paced

3.25

jocecily's review

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challenging reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.5

mohogan2063's review

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4.0

Read this for my book club.