Genre: Mystery
This Genre didn't start till the 19th century with Wilkie Collins, (Although Collin's novels are mainly seen as 'Sensational' novels they have their place in the 'Mystery' genre too) and Edgar Allen Poe.
The Moonstone is Collins's best book, although The Woman in White is considered the first detective/mystery novel. Penny (or Dime in the USA) novels, helped expand this genre with a cheap access for the working class to get to these books.
Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle is possible the most well known detective mystery series of this time, no other detective is possibly more famous than Sherlock Holmes.
The 1900's gave rise to a new and brilliant mystery writer Agatha Christie, with her Belgian detective Hercule Poirot.
Information from and/or modified from: Wikipedia