The Detective Detector by O. Henry
A wealthy man hires a detective to investigate his own murder, which he has staged to test the integrity of his employees and acquaintances. The detective must navigate a complex web of motives and alibis to uncover the truth behind the fake crime.
By O. Henry · First published 1908 · Genre: Crime Fiction, Mystery, Humor · 2,131 words
First lines
I was walking in Central Park with Avery Knight, the great New York burglar, highwayman, and murderer.
What this Textopian page supports
The Detective Detector is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1908 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: O. Henry
- Date: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Crime Fiction, Mystery, Humor, Satire, Short Story
- Length: 2,131 words
- Structure: 1 section, 43 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Detective Detector by O. Henry
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Detective Detector?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Crime Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- Calloways Code by O. Henry
- Thanksgiving Remarks by O. Henry
- Tracked To Doom Or The Mystery Of The Rue De Peychaud by O. Henry
- The Sleuths by O. Henry
- A Startling Demonstration by O. Henry
Genres
- Crime Fiction — The plot revolves around a murder and the interactions between a criminal and a detective, central to the crime genre.
- Mystery — The narrative involves elements of mystery as it explores the methods of detection and the challenge of finding a murderer.
- Humor — The writing style incorporates wit and irony, particularly in the dialogue and the absurdity of the situations.
- Satire — The story critiques societal norms and the ineffectiveness of law enforcement through exaggerated characters and scenarios.
Tags
Mystery · Detective Fiction · Short Story Collection · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · American Literature · Classic Novel · Crime Fiction · Whodunit · Plot Twist · Irony