Want to Find Out if Curiosity Did Indeed Kill the Cat?

Well, it's elementary, my dear Watsons. Welcome to this introduction to our acclaimed mystery fiction course. In this sample of our Mystery Fiction online classroom, you will get access to several elements of the real course, including the first unit -- free!

In this free first unit, you will be able to view the welcome message from the course's instructor as well as the Course Overview material. Within this section, you have access to the Introduction, Course Outline, Requirements and Grading, and Submitting Assignments pages. You will be able to navigate your way through the Mystery Mansion rooms in Unit One, with limited access to resource links, recommended materials, lectures, and instruction.

The metaphor of the Mystery House will help you approach the material covered in this course. Each room of the Mystery House is the setting for an investigation of a theme in mystery fiction. Rather than limit your study to narrow historical periods, this kind of organization allows you to consider artistic and intellectual developments in mystery fiction up and down its history.

Keep in mind that you won't be able to discuss your thoughts about the mystery fiction topics on the Message Board here. The links at the top, including the instructor's e-mail address and the course Chat Room and Message Board, have been disabled as part of your limited access. (You can go to our Sample Classroom and visit that Message Board to get a feel for how to use it.)

Begin your journey into the Mystery House by visiting the first of eleven units. We have been awaiting your arrival . . .