This free course, featuring interviews with famous crime fiction authors, explores psychological theory and research on the relationships we form with fictional characters.

Le polar, crime fiction, is the most popular literary form in France. In this free course, you will discover the origins and development of French crime fiction, along with its current status, before reflecting on whether it is simply mass entertainment or, rather, genuine literature of quality. You will discover some important authors and work ...

In this free course you’ll examine one of Agatha Christie’s most significant works, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (1926), and explore the evolution of British detective fiction in relation to Christie’s background, literary modernism and the development of middlebrow fiction.

The popularity of crime fiction is on the rise. Bill Alder looks back and charts the history of this genre in post-1945 Europe.

How are blues lyrics similar to crime fiction? Which books influenced musician Rory Gallagher’s music? Follow Dr Lauren O’Hagan’s investigation. Then see if you can tell blues lyrics apart from detective stories!

This article will consider how the figure of the outlaw is presented in early twentieth-century American folk music. What is constant, and what changes? What lies behind these strands of imitation and innovation?

For Graham Pike, writing psychology courses is part of the job. But what happened when he found himself having to create a crime drama?

In the first Poirot book, the murderer's weapon of choice is the bitter poison strychnine. The scientist, writer and poison expert Deborah Blum reopens the case.

Crime fiction is the most popular literary genre in Europe today. Watch a discussion between The Open University’s Bill Alder and distinguished crime fiction author Simon Brett OBE on the past, present and future of crime fiction.

Val McDermid talks about her inspirations for the monstrous character of Jacko Vance in 'Wire in the Blood' and how celebrity is the new lord of the manor in the crime genre. 

Whether it's literature, television or film, crime has always been a popular genre with wide-appeal; but why is this source of fear such a fascinating subject to us? This four track audio album strives to answer this question through interviews with key figures such as criminologists and crime authors, with members of the general public also ...

Put yourself in a crime scene officer's shoes and try to solve a suspected murder when time and resources are tight. Can you link the suspects to the forensic evidence? 

What do you really know about crime? Try our interactive 'Finding the Truth' to dig way beyond the surface of forensic psychology, corporate crime and the prison system. 

Some money has been stolen - everyone denies taking it but some people are lying. Can you work out who is telling the truth and who is being dishonest? Find out in our interactive...