Crime and comedy may seem strange bedfellows, but comic characters, situations, and episodes have appeared in detective fiction from the early years of the genre. Scores of parodies of different types of mystery stories have been published mocking generic conventions as well as individual writers and characters. Caricatures have exposed ridiculous behavior in crime novels of manners, and the detective as clown has delighted readers as he strives to extricate himself from perilous scrapes or indulges in high jinks while trying to solve a murder mystery. In addition there is the amusing word play employing double entendre or sly innuendo as opposed to physical farce encountered in wild chase scenes.

Comedy is a serious genre because it strives to expose human folly and vice, a goal which it shares with the crime novel. So they are not such strange bedfellows after all.

Join us for an investigation of whodunits in which comedy rather than moral sermons demonstrate that crime does not pay. More about Dr. Rahn: crimecritic.com.

Four Sessions:
Wednesdays, February 4
March 4
April 8
May 6

A reading list and copies of the books for discussion are available for registrants.

Advance registration is required. How to Register