My love of detectives began at a young age. When I was in elementary school, I was placed in advanced classes. Most of it consisted of me beating my teacher at chess, debating, and getting really good at persuasive essays–but one of our earliest assignments was to read The Hound of the Baskervilles. I don’t remember what we were meant to do after, maybe write an analysis essay, or maybe the teacher just wanted us to discuss it, but the details are irrelevant: I loved it. I sought out the rest of the Sherlock Holmes books and read them all. I was obsessed with them. It shouldn’t have been a surprise to anyone; I grew up watching Scooby Doo.
As I grew up, my love of Sherlock Holmes evolved and bled into everything else I wanted to read or watch. Even the children’s horror books I read appealed to me in part because of the mystery inherent to a good scary story. Even my favorite board game at the time wouldn’t be spared: Clue. (I always played Miss Scarlet, who’s surprised?) I discovered film noirs, detective radio serials, anything with a gruesome (or, sometimes, silly) mystery to be solved was on the table for me.
Most recently, my taste in detective fiction has erred towards honkaku detective novels and TV shows with lighter tones (like Columbo or Moonlighting.) It’s also expanded–I enjoy a good mystery headed by non-detectives now, too. (As long as I find them clever or charming enough…) But my love for the gloomy atmosphere of old greyscale movies has never faded. This page will serve as a hub for recommendations, rambles, and art related to the genre that I loved first: mystery.
WIP!
These may contain spoilers!
WIP!
WIP!
