Detective Fiction
Explore books, themes, and recommendations in Detective Fiction.
What is Detective Fiction?
The detective novel is a mystery novel in which the crimes are solved by a detective, either a professional or an amateur. The detective is typically the protagonist of the book and uses insights to solve the crime. This is a fairly broad definition of the genre, so specific definitions may be hard to come by.
Detective Fiction Characteristics
Level of Characterization
The character may or may not be well drawn. The character may be as well drawn as a literary novel, or maybe a series of quirks masquerading as a person..
Level of Plot
Since a detective is trying to figure out a crime, the plot is typically the most important of the literary elements in the book.
Level of Mystery
The detective novel requires a certain level of mystery, given that the detective's purpose in the book is to solve the crime at hand.
Level of Suspense
There may be suspense elements if there are timetables that must be met or danger to the main characters.
Level of Thriller
The detective may be involved in a plot that has larger ramifications and may be political in nature.
Level of Strangeness
The detective novel can be as odd as the author wants it to be. The main character may be quirky or the circumstances of the crime may be peculiar.
Level of Violence
Given the breadth of this subgenre, the detective novel may see large amounts of violence either in the method of murder or violence against the detective himself.
Level of Action
There may be significant amounts of action in the book, ranging from fist fights and car chases to saving the world from destruction.
Degree of Thriller, Suspense, Crime, or Mystery in the Detective Fiction Subgenre
Primarily the detective novel falls under the mystery category. The detective's job is to solve a mystery. There may be elements of suspense in the method of murder or solution. There can be suspenseful scenes or plots if time elements are involved. The novel may wax poetic about the crime as a crime novel as well.
Related MYSTERY Subgenres
Hardboiled detectives, amateur detectives, quirky detectives, Golden Age Mysteries.
Detective Fiction isn't for you IF...
“ prefer books about ordinary people solving crimes.
Popular Detective Fiction Books
- Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie. Hercule Poirot solves a series of killings on a Nile cruise.
- The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler. A general wants Philip Marlowe to determine which of his daughters is a killer.
- The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett. Sam Spade tries to learn what happened to a jewel encrusted bird while looking for his murdered partner's killer.
- Murder Must Advertise by Dorothy L. Sayers. Lord Peter solves a murder at an advertising agency.
- The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. A gigantic hound is killing off the heirs to the Baskerville title and Sherlock Holmes is called in to investigate.
- Winter Prey by John Sanford. Lucas Davenport looks into a serial killing in Wisconsin.
- Still Life by Louise Penny. The first novel in the Chief Inspector Gamache series which has won practically every award known to man.
- The Innocence of Father Brown by GK Chesterton. Short stories featuring the wise and forgiving cleric
- Some Buried Caesar by Rex Stout. Long considered one of the best of the Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin series that takes place on a farm.
- The Case of the Howling Dog by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry Mason solves a tough case in his fourth adventure in the long-running series.