Often claimed to be among the first modern detective stories written, "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" exemplifies Poe’s interest in the workings of the mind when facing cases that need to be solved. C. Auguste Dupin, the protagonist, is the forefather of all great detectives such as Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, and Philip Marlowe. Different from Poe’s terror or horror-laden tales, the story nonetheless abounds in strange occurrences and horrific depictions. It has been made into several movie and TV adaptations, as well as radio programmes.

Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was an American poet, author, and literary critic. Most famous for his poetry, short stories, and tales of the supernatural, mysterious, and macabre, he is also regarded as the inventor of the detective genre and a contributor to the emergence of science fiction, dark romanticism, and weird fiction. His most famous works include "The Raven" (1945), "The Black Cat" (1943), and "The Gold-Bug" (1843).