A young woman is found dead in the Seine. The newspapers are filled with theories, contradictions, and sensational claims. C. Auguste Dupin believes the truth is hidden among them.
In this sequel to *The Murders in the Rue Morgue*, Edgar Allan Poe’s brilliant detective turns his powers of analysis toward the mysterious death of Marie Rogêt, a Parisian perfume-shop employee whose disappearance has captivated the public.
Rather than relying on physical clues from the crime scene, Dupin studies newspaper accounts, witness statements, timelines, and competing theories. Piece by piece, he exposes flawed assumptions and contradictions in the press while reconstructing what may have happened on the night Marie disappeared.
Behind Poe’s fictional mystery lies an extraordinary real-life connection. The story was inspired by the unsolved 1841 murder of New York clerk Mary Cecilia Rogers, with Poe transferring the case to Paris and using Dupin’s method of “ratiocination” to examine the evidence.
First published from 1842 to 1843, *The Mystery of Marie Rogêt* is an innovative blend of detective fiction, true-crime inspiration, media criticism, and logical deduction—and an important early milestone in the development of the mystery genre.
Narrated by Tony J. Martin.
