Great Detectives in Fiction

This course explores a diverse array of fictional detectives through a selection of five novels. You will explore the development of the genre through these key texts, looking at how authors have used the figure of the detective to explore wider themes such as social change, the moral questions of murder and the search for answers to a puzzle. Key elements of each novel will be considered through short lectures and critical discussions.In this iteration of the course, we will look at the following texts:

• Braddon, M. E. (2012). Lady Audley’s Secret. Oxford: OUP
• Macrae-Burnett, G. (2025). His Bloody Project. Glasgow: Contraband
• Kidd, J. (2026). Murder at Gulls Nest. London: Faber
• Adler-Olsen, J. (2013). Mercy. Harmondsworth: Penguin
• Rampo, E. (2023). Beast in the Shadows. Harmondsworth: Penguin

Please do not purchase any books until the course is confirmed to run. You will require access to a computer or other device with internet connection.

If you have fully engaged with all the learning activities and have attended regularly, by the end of the course you should be able to:

• Apply an analytical approach to close reading
• Contextualise literary texts within their historical, social, and political frameworks
• Explain how the detective fiction genre has developed and diversified

No prior knowledge or experience is required although an interest in literature would be helpful.

We welcome all and are committed to fostering a positive culture and sense of community among learners and staff. We expect learners to treat others with dignity and respect. Learners must be aged 16+.  

If you have a disability, learning difficulty, health condition, or personal circumstances which may affect your learning, please let us know so that we can make appropriate adjustments in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.  

Wherever possible, we mainstream adjustments in line with the University’s Accessible and Inclusive Learning Policy.

Learners will have limited access to the University’s student support services who will signpost appropriate local sources of support. 

The course is suitable for those with no prior experience of university study. No previous knowledge of literature is required, but a keen interest in the subject would be helpful.

You will need to have reading, listening and communication skills, including the ability to understand detailed ideas and information presented verbally and in writing. You must be comfortable learning in English if it is not your first language. You will need basic digital skills, such as using a computer and navigating a website, to access the learning materials.

Booking is available until 23:59 the day before the course is due to start, unless the course is full or cancelled.