What does whodunit mean?

detective story
Definition of whodunit

: a detective story or mystery story.

What are literary mysteries?

Mystery is a fiction genre where the nature of an event, usually a murder or other crime, remains mysterious until the end of the story. Often within a closed circle of suspects, each suspect is usually provided with a credible motive and a reasonable opportunity for committing the crime.

What is a whodunit novel?

A whodunit is a mystery story that keeps the criminal’s identity a secret until the very end. A well-written whodunit can keep you up late turning pages, eager for the ending to be revealed. If a book, play, or movie is a whodunit, there’s usually a detective investigating what’s almost always a murder case.

What are the 4 types of mysteries?

Mystery and crime fiction often fall into four separate sub-genres, each with its own characteristics.
  • Detective novels. These are crime novels that center around a detective (professional, amateur, or retired) investigating a crime or solving a murder case. …
  • Cozy mysteries. …
  • Police procedural. …
  • Caper stories.