The University of Cambridge is organizing a five-month exhibition starting March 23, 2024, of 20th-century crime novels and stories. Crime fiction is the most read and borrowed genre in the UK. The "Murder by the Book" exhibition, curated by award-winning novelist Nicola Upson, challenges traditional distinctions between literary and genre fiction. It highlights the place of crime in British history and the library’s special collections. The exhibition features rare books and audio-visual recordings tracing the genre from Wilkie Collins and Charles Dickens to contemporary bestsellers like Ian Rankin. First editions of "The Moonstone" and "Bleak House," along with the debut of Sherlock Holmes, are on display. Nicola Upson, author of "Expert in Murder," will open the exhibition with Dr. Jessica Gardner, University Librarian. Upson believes crime shouldn't be seen as second-class literature. Gardner, an avid crime reader, oversaw the archives since 2017. The exhibition is accompanied by seminars on works like "Peter Pan," "Girl with a Pearl Earring," "ne Girl," and meetings with novelists like Vaseem Khan.