This work investigates the historical evolution of the detective story and its transition into the modern crime novel. Julian Symons, a noted author and critic, utilizes his extensive knowledge of the genre to trace the development of mystery fiction from its nineteenth-century origins to the late twentieth century. He provides a critical framework that evaluates the shifting conventions of the genre while maintaining a focus on the quality and influence of key authors.

Critics and scholars frequently cite this text as a foundational historical survey of the mystery genre. Readers often note the author's candid, opinionated prose style, which provides a distinct perspective on the evolution of crime literature.