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58 pages 1 hour read

James Patterson, Brian Sitts

Holmes, Marple & Poe: The Greatest Crime-Solving Team of the Twenty-First Century

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2024

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Essay Topics

1.

Does the novel assume that its readers have a working knowledge of the Poe, Doyle, and Christie stories after which its detectives are named? How does this affect its presentation of these literary antecedents?

2.

How does the novel differentiate between crime (something that is illegal) and injustice (something that is morally wrong)? Why is this distinction important?

3.

How important are the names of characters besides the three protagonists? Analyze how a character’s name relates to their actions and worldview.

4.

Why does the novel feature several small mysteries instead of one large case? How does this play with genre and reader expectations?

5.

Consider team loyalty in the novel. Is it the same as teamwork or friendship? How does the group of detectives function professionally and interpersonally? Do their interactions hold clues about the uncertain length of time that Holmes, Marple, and Poe have been working together?

6.

The novel pushes back against powerful figures who use their influence for corrupt purposes. How does the novel treat the institutions that these figures represent?

7.

What value do the numerous literary allusions offer to the text? How do they encourage the reader to interact with the text?

8.

The novel has many minor antagonists—but is there a major antagonist, either a specific character or an idea? Why or why not?

9.

Is the unknown identity of the three detectives important to the text? Why or why not?

10.

Does the novel have a moral compass? If so, which character embodies it? If not, why not?

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