The Gold-Bug and Other Tales
For lovers of gothic American literature, horror, mystery, or suspense, consider the nine gripping stories contained within the Edgar Allen Poe collection "The Gold-Bug and Other Tales." Two mysteries and seven murders, all coming from various points in Poe's writing career, make this anthology a valuable addition to any literature collection. "The Gold-Bug" is set in South Carolina and follows the tale of a man and his servant as they embark on a madness-induced journey for buried treasure. The story hinges on the reader's ability to break a code in order to figure out a secret message. "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," known as the world's first detective story, makes the audience look for a non-human explanation of a double homicide in France. The puzzle involves a murderer who spoke no language known to man, and a hair left at the crime scene that was not human. Other popular Poe stories are included in the collection, such as "The Fall of the House of Usher," "The Masque of the Red Death," "The Pit and the Pendulum," and "The Cask of Amontillado." Readers will enjoy Poe's twisted sense of horror and the Gothic style, both of which have entranced audiences for the better part of two centuries.