Lectures on Tap - "Whodunit? The Psychology Behind Detective Fiction"

📍 Location: Exact address given in confirmation email

🧠 Lecture: "Whodunit? The Psychology Behind Detective Fiction"

🎙️ Speaker: Dr. Diane Mello-Goldner

What can detective fiction reveal about how we understand people and why they do what they do? Join us for a captivating evening as Dr. Diane Mello-Goldner traces the evolution of the genre—from classic, puzzle-like soft-boiled mysteries to gritty noir and contemporary crime stories—and unpacks what these shifting styles say about psychology, morality, and justice.

We’ll explore a range of iconic sleuths and how each reflects a different way of thinking about human behavior, with special attention to Maisie Dobbs, a detective who sits at the powerful intersection of psychology and investigative work.

Dr. Mello-Goldner is a senior lecturer at Boston University and spent over 25 years as a psychology professor and academic leader at Pine Manor College. Her teaching and research examine how people think about themselves, pursue goals, and succeed, and she has created interdisciplinary courses that link psychological concepts to Harry Potter and to women in detective fiction. She is the author of A Detective's History of Psychology and a longtime leader in the New England Psychological Association.

Get a drink, connect, and learn at Lectures on Tap! 🙌

Agenda

6:30 PM – Doors open: find a seat (open seating!), order food & drinks, and expect a bar line—arriving early is key.

6:55 PM – Host introduction

7:00 PM – Lecture begins

7:45 PM – Audience Q&A

8:00 PM – Have 1:1 time with the speaker, mingle with fellow guests, and order another round

8:30 PM – Wrap up.