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brimmsy's review
2.0
Well, it was interesting to see where later authors drew inspiration from, if nothing else, and I'm giving it an extra star for that alone. But I didn't enjoy these stories.
mollyfiddler's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
nickmasters's review against another edition
3.0
At least I can now say I have read Edgar Allan Poe.
Look, there was some interesting writing, and interesting detective work, but a lot of it seemed like ramblings to me. Having said that, I do appreciate that this was penned in the early 1800's and that what I read was the inception of the detective genre. For that alone it deserves to be held up high.
Thank you NetGalley and Pushkin Press for a review copy.
Look, there was some interesting writing, and interesting detective work, but a lot of it seemed like ramblings to me. Having said that, I do appreciate that this was penned in the early 1800's and that what I read was the inception of the detective genre. For that alone it deserves to be held up high.
Thank you NetGalley and Pushkin Press for a review copy.
k_kubistova's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
sofia_the_scholar's review against another edition
4.0
The Murders in the Rue Morgue is a book which contains three stories: "The Murders in the Rue Morgue", "The Mystery of Marie Roget" and "The Purloined Letter". Poe together with Dupin are found in Paris dealing with mysteries that may seem blatantly obvious to the other Parisians, but they have more depth than what people think...
Like every Poe story, this one also has the characteristics of a really intense and chilling atmosphere, intricate and rich vocabulary and also a fascinating plot.
The first two stories share some similarities, but The Mystery of Marie Roget was a bit slow for me, but nonetheless interesting. My favorite one has to be "The Murders in the Rue Morgue", because it has such an out-of-this-world plot-twist. The Purloined Letter had also this eye-catching story-telling that Poe always seem to have but in a shorter time.
This book is proof that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was inspired by Edgar Allan Poe to write "The Adeventures of Sherlock Holmes".
Like every Poe story, this one also has the characteristics of a really intense and chilling atmosphere, intricate and rich vocabulary and also a fascinating plot.
The first two stories share some similarities, but The Mystery of Marie Roget was a bit slow for me, but nonetheless interesting. My favorite one has to be "The Murders in the Rue Morgue", because it has such an out-of-this-world plot-twist. The Purloined Letter had also this eye-catching story-telling that Poe always seem to have but in a shorter time.
This book is proof that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was inspired by Edgar Allan Poe to write "The Adeventures of Sherlock Holmes".
colorfulleo92's review
3.0
An okay read overall but didn't evoke any strong feelings. But reminded me to try and pick up more of his works and more classics in general as I seemed not to have done it as much so far in the year
ericbuscemi's review
3.0
I decided to read Poe's Dupin stories after reading this exchange between Watson and Sherlock Holmes in [b:A Study in Scarlet|102868|A Study in Scarlet (Sherlock Holmes, #1)|Arthur Conan Doyle|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1348362236s/102868.jpg|1997473]:
'The Murders in the Rue Morgue' was easily the most entertaining of the three. While imperfect, it is the prototypical detective story on which all others are based, and still managed to be an engaging read over a century and a half after it was written. The biggest flaw is that the solution to the murders is a) rather absurd and b) incapable of being surmised by the reader before it is revealed at the conclusion. My rating: Four stars.
'The Mystery of Marie Roget' lacked all the positive qualities of its predecessor, but maintained its biggest flaw -- the overlong sections of Dupin's exposition. The result was a short story that was dry as a criminal justice textbook and lacked any overall characters or plot. My rating: Two stars.
'The Purloined Letter' was the best of the Dupin tales by any critical measure. The story balances plot, storytelling, exposition, and pace better than the previous two. The story is shorter, tighter, and gives the most insight into the mind and heart of Dupin, beyond his long-winded critical analysis. My rating: Four stars.
"It is simple enough as you explain it," I said, smiling. "You remind me of Edgar Allen Poe's Dupin. I had no idea that such individuals did exist outside of stories."I cannot look at this compilation as one cohesive work, as each of the three stories -- 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue', 'The Mystery of Marie Roget', and 'The Purloined Letter' -- are written in different styles with different themes, linked only by the presence of Dupin and the unnamed narrator. As such, I will comment on and rate each story individually.
Sherlock Holmes rose and lit his pipe. "No doubt you think that you are complimenting me in comparing me to Dupin," he observed. "Now, in my opinion, Dupin was a very inferior fellow. That trick of his of breaking in on his friends' thoughts with an apropos remark after a quarter of an hour's silence is really very showy and superficial. He had some analytical genius, no doubt; but he was by no means such a phenomenon as Poe appeared to imagine."
'The Murders in the Rue Morgue' was easily the most entertaining of the three. While imperfect, it is the prototypical detective story on which all others are based, and still managed to be an engaging read over a century and a half after it was written. The biggest flaw is that the solution to the murders is a) rather absurd and b) incapable of being surmised by the reader before it is revealed at the conclusion. My rating: Four stars.
'The Mystery of Marie Roget' lacked all the positive qualities of its predecessor, but maintained its biggest flaw -- the overlong sections of Dupin's exposition. The result was a short story that was dry as a criminal justice textbook and lacked any overall characters or plot. My rating: Two stars.
'The Purloined Letter' was the best of the Dupin tales by any critical measure. The story balances plot, storytelling, exposition, and pace better than the previous two. The story is shorter, tighter, and gives the most insight into the mind and heart of Dupin, beyond his long-winded critical analysis. My rating: Four stars.
booksandshan's review against another edition
4.0
4 out of 5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
'Three macabre and confounding mysteries for the first and greatest of detectives, Auguste Dupin'
I'm not normally a fan of detective novels but I can't turn down Edgar Allan Poe. I knew his words would be educated and descriptive.
This is where it all began. He's wonderful. He's inspired so my mystery writers and you can see why.
I recommend this to anyone that likes detective mysteries and short stories. I will definitely picking this up in physical form. Will be a great addition to my collection.
This review has been posted on my Goodreads!
https://www.goodreads.com/shaanhbxo
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
'Three macabre and confounding mysteries for the first and greatest of detectives, Auguste Dupin'
I'm not normally a fan of detective novels but I can't turn down Edgar Allan Poe. I knew his words would be educated and descriptive.
This is where it all began. He's wonderful. He's inspired so my mystery writers and you can see why.
I recommend this to anyone that likes detective mysteries and short stories. I will definitely picking this up in physical form. Will be a great addition to my collection.
This review has been posted on my Goodreads!
https://www.goodreads.com/shaanhbxo
maddie_1999's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75