Lobby card from the American mystery film Mystery Broadcast (1943), Republic Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Whodunit? What was the motive? Where’s the one clue that will finally crack the case? What happens if we look over the evidence one more time?
These questions are at the heart of the mystery genre. But they are also questions that historians find themselves asking. More than one historian has likened their work to that of a detective, though the historian’s work seldom reaches a tidy solution — and no one is gathered in the parlor listening with bated breath!
We’re now accepting pitches for short essays (500–800 words) that explore mystery fiction (novels, short stories, film, television, comics, etc.) through a historical lens. We are especially interested in questions like: How does mystery fiction reflect or depict specific historical moments or trends? How does mystery fiction depict or inspire the actual work of history? How has the mystery genre changed over time? Essays do not have to focus on a single work or character, though the writer should keep the low word count in mind.
Email a short pitch and a brief bio to pitches@contingentmag.org with “MYSTERY” in the subject line. Pitches are due by Friday, November 18. You’ll hear back from us by Monday, November 21. Drafts will be due by Wednesday, November 30. Please note the quick turnaround time for this series.
Each author will be paid $150. As always, Contingent will prioritize pitches from people who have completed postgraduate work in history (or a history-adjacent field) but are working outside of tenure-track employment.