"The Golden Age of detective fiction flourished between the World Wars. This era saw the emergence of Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Margery Allingham, John Dickson Carr, Ellery Queen, and dozens of once-renowned authors. In recent years, this type of fiction has enjoyed a great resurgence of interest, as publishers mine back catalogues to bring the best of yesteryear to a new generation of detective fiction aficionados. What is it about the Golden Age that appeals to 21st-Cenutry readers? In this authoritative new study, John Curran argues that it is the ludic qualities of classic crime fiction that continue to intrigue. The Whodunnit? game between writer and reader is at its heart; but there is also the game between writer and writer, between detective and murderer, and even between publisher and book-buyer. Alongside an increase in leisure time and literacy, the Golden Age also saw the development of the crossword, the emergence of Cluedo (or Clue in the USA), the continuing popularity of jigsaws, the growth of bridge and mahjong -- all activities involving the 'little grey cells'! The Murder Game considers all of these, and many other sporting and comparative recreations, that help explain the reading public's ongoing love affair with the Golden Age of mystery." -- inside cover.