Crime fiction, detective story, murder mystery, and 
police fiction are terms used to describe narratives 
that center on criminal acts and especially on the 
investigation.
Suspense and mystery are key elements to the 
genre.
Some of the oldest tales of crime fiction include 
the Arabian anthology One Thousand and One 
Nights (c. 7th century).
 
In England, during the Victorian Age, crime fiction as a 
genre coincided with the Industrial Revolution. As cities 
became larger and unemployment became more 
prevalent, crime increased. 
Sub-genres of Police Fiction 
1. Detective Fiction: this type of narrative 
typically follows the professional detective 
who sets out to solve the crime. Usually, the 
audience learns more about the crime as the 
detective continues their investigation. An 
example of detective fiction includes The 
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892).