La Dégringolade
1873
La Dégringolade, published in 1873 by Émile Gaboriau, is a mystery novel set in Paris that follows Raymond Delorge, who becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue after a violent attack on him. The story begins in a café, where a scream interrupts a card game, leading to the discovery of Delorge's injuries and a mysterious letter he has swallowed. Gaboriau's work is notable for its early contribution to the detective genre, influencing later writers and establishing narrative techniques still used in mystery fiction today.
