whodunnit
Detective fiction genre
A whodunnit is a mystery story—novel, film, or play—centered on discovering who committed a crime, typically murder.
The pleasure lies in piecing together clues alongside the detective: It's a classic whodunnit with red herrings and a surprise ending.
The spelling whodunit also appears.
From "who done it," a nonstandard rendering of "who did it."
Solving aid
- suspectBelieve to be likely
- culpritPerson found guilty
- alibiDefense of location
- motiveReason for action
twist · revelation · puzzle · enigma · solution · dénouement · unraveling · misdirection
Deliberate unlawful killing
- homicideCausing another's death
- victimOne harmed by another
- corpseDeceased human body
- weaponInstrument for inflicting harm
poison · strangling · stabbing · theft · blackmail · forgery · kidnapping · embezzlement
Private investigator
- PoirotFictional Belgian detective
- SherlockIconic Victorian-era investigator
- gumshoeInformal term for detective
- inspectorOfficial quality checker
investigator · interrogation · deduction · evidence · fingerprint · stakeout · surveillance · case
Stretched or strained state
- cliffhangerSuspenseful unresolved ending
- forebodingFearful anticipation of harm
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- anticipationState of awaiting something
nail-biting · gripping · ominous · page-turner · anxiety · apprehension · menace · threat
Clandestine coordinated scheming
- betrayalBreaking of trust
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
- treacheryDeliberate violation of trust
subterfuge · secrets · scheming · collusion · web · ploy · masquerade · clandestine
Warm and snug
- noirHard-boiled film genre
- hardboiledTough, cynical fiction style
- locked-roomSealed-space puzzle type
- country-houseLarge rural residence
clue
Solving aid
motive · twist · revelation · puzzle · enigma · solution · dénouement · unraveling · misdirection · secret
murder
Deliberate unlawful killing
weapon · poison · strangling · stabbing · theft · blackmail · forgery · kidnapping · embezzlement · manslaughter
sleuth
Private investigator
- PoirotFictional Belgian detective
- SherlockIconic Victorian-era investigator
- gumshoeInformal term for detective
inspector · investigator · interrogation · deduction · evidence · fingerprint · stakeout · surveillance · case · witness
tension
Stretched or strained state
- cliffhangerSuspenseful unresolved ending
- forebodingFearful anticipation of harm
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
anticipation · nail-biting · gripping · ominous · page-turner · anxiety · apprehension · menace · threat · peril
conspiracy
Clandestine coordinated scheming
- betrayalBreaking of trust
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
treachery · subterfuge · secrets · scheming · collusion · web · ploy · masquerade · clandestine · complicity
cozy
Warm and snug
- noirHard-boiled film genre
- hardboiledTough, cynical fiction style
- locked-roomSealed-space puzzle type
- mystery fictionsleuth, murder mystery, detective novel, detective fiction, crime fiction
whodunnitthriller
Suspense-driven narrative genre
action thriller · horror novel · psychological thriller · survival story · adventure story
whodunnitliterary fiction
Prose emphasizing craft and depth
thriller · romance · experimental fiction · slice of life · horror