Massie Affair & Detective Fiction

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A 6 page research paper that discusses a case that occurred in Hawaii in the 1930s that was propelled by racism. Mystery fiction, specifically detective fiction, offers a means for the public to understand the logistics of police procedure and how cases are investigated, solved and culprits apprehended. In other words, people often use fiction as a means of understanding reality. Taking this perspective, the question arises as to whether or not fiction can provide a template that facilitates greater understanding of an actual, and infamous, case that occurred in Hawaii in the 1930s that is known as the “Massie Affair.” Examination of the discussion offered by Routledge (2007) concerning various subgenres of mystery/detective fiction reveals that only one of the categories discussed is remotely applicable to the Massie Affair and then only in a reverse sense. Bibliography lists 2 sources.