Crime Fiction: Videos

Agatha Christie was the Queen of Crime Fiction. In a career that spanned more than half a century and two world wars, Agatha wrote 80 novels and short stories, creating such unforgettable characters as Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. Revered as the 'Master of Suspense', Agatha Christie perfected the art of the 'whodunit' – and her mysteries were a masterpiece in misdirection. One of her many plays, 'The Mousetrap', is the longest running play in theatrical history.

John Le Carré's novel The Russia House was hugely popular in the Soviet Union where he is celebrated as the only writer to capture the spirit of the country at a turning point in its history. Omnibus joined the Hollywood film crew and stars on location in Moscow.

The genre of the hard-boiled detective story, which is Raymond Chandler's contribution to the history of American literature, was derived from his observations of life in Los Angeles during the 1930s. Using period newsreels and clips from feature films made from his stories, this program shows the excesses of a frontier town shedding conscience in pursuit of possessions-the crime and corruption that provided the backdrop and inspiration for Chandler's work.

The acclaimed writer joins CNET Book Club to talk about his latest detective novel and his dystopian classic, Futureland.

Contemporary creative artists provide their own personal accounts, shedding light on the emblematic figures present in all strong plots. Authors Caryl Férey and Michael Connelly; filmmakers Michael Mann and Olivier Marchal; show runners Anne Landois and David Simon; cartoonist Juanjo Guarnido; and gamer David Cage guide us through the fantastical wanderings of suspense, which underwent an invigorating renewal in the early 1990s with the Scandinavian wave.

From fingerprints and ballistics to profiling and DNA evidence, see how technology has transformed the art of crime-solving. It all started with Sherlock Holmes. The incredible ability of the fictional detective to solve crimes from the merest physical clues inspired Scotland Yard to follow his lead and search for the trail of criminals in the physical evidence left behind at every crime scene. 100 years later, forensic science boasts abilities that would once have been considered magical, even by the exceedingly rational Holmes.

To understand how criminal law works, you first have to understand what a crime is. What are the purposes of criminal law? Why is textualism so important to distinguishing the bygone era of common-law crimes from those of the 21st century? Who are the key players involved in defining a crime?

Crime writing and the memoir are highlighted in this volume. In segment one, author/journalist Martin J. Smith shares his knowledge about the differences between mystery, crime, and suspense; how to know if you have a solid concept; and five elements that are necessary for success in a crime-related genre. In segment two, author and former columnist Adair Lara walks viewers through The Arc, an indispensable tool for developing the structure of a memoir and making it compelling-and marketable. In addition, Lara responds to questions such as How do you move the story forward?, How do you handle hurt feelings?, and Where do you start, how do you end?