'The Murders in the Rue Morgue' and its sequel 'The Mystery of Marie Roget' represent the beginning of crime fiction and each story has been hailed as a masterpiece.

In 'Morgue' the Parisian detective investigates the savage murder of a mother and daughter. In the follow-up, Dupin is on the hunt of a killer in a case based on the true story of Mary Rogers, a saleswoman at a cigar store in Manhattan whose body was found floating in the Hudson River in 1841.

'The Purloined Letter' first appeared in 'The Gift: A Christmas and New Year's Present for 1845,' in December, 1844. Poe earned $12 for its first printing. It is now considered one of the greatest short stories ever written.