The Lerouge Case

The Lerouge Case

Émile Gaboriau

What is The Lerouge Case about?

The Lerouge Case (L’Affaire Lerouge, 1866) is the first detective novel by Gaboriau and one of the earliest in any language. When a widow is found murdered in a Paris suburb, amateur detective Père Tabaret and police agent Lecoq investigate, piecing together evidence to reveal a complex web of illegitimacy and revenge among the aristocracy.

auto_stories20 chaptersENMysteryFiction

Main themes in The Lerouge Case

First detective novel

The theme of first detective novel weaves through The Lerouge Case, adding depth to its narrative.

Paris murder

The presence of paris murder in The Lerouge Case connects readers to its enduring relevance.

Aristocratic secrets

The theme of aristocratic secrets weaves through The Lerouge Case, adding depth to its narrative.

Illegitimacy

Illegitimacy emerges as a defining element in The Lerouge Case, shaping character development.

Why The Lerouge Case is still relevant today

The novel that launched detective fiction. One of the most historically important mystery novels ever written.

About the author

Émile Gaboriau

More by this author

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Lerouge Case about?

A Paris murder investigation reveals aristocratic secrets — one of the earliest detective novels ever written.

Where can I read it?

Free on TextStack.

Back to Books