The Atlas Obscura Podcast · Thursday, August 6, 2026
Edgar Allan Poe, seeking to establish himself as a writer of detective fiction, was deeply intrigued by the unsolved murder of Mary Rogers. He visited the crime scenes and interviewed witnesses, ultimately using the case as the basis for his short story, "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," which is considered the first modern detective story.
“Edgar Allan Poe, who was then trying to make a name for himself as a writer of detective fiction, was intrigued.”
“He visited the crime scenes, interviewed witnesses, and even consulted with the police.”
“The story was published in 1841, and it's considered the first modern detective story.”