Detektivromane

Detektivromane, also known as mystery novels or crime fiction, are a genre of fiction characterized by a central puzzle or crime, typically a murder or theft, which is investigated and solved by a detective. The narrative usually follows the detective's process of gathering clues, interviewing suspects, and deducing the truth. This genre often features a closed circle of suspects, a limited timeframe, and a surprising resolution where the seemingly innocent are revealed as guilty and vice versa.

The origins of the modern detective novel are often traced back to Edgar Allan Poe's "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" (1841), which introduced the brilliant but eccentric C. Auguste Dupin. Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, first appearing in "A Study in Scarlet" (1887), further solidified the genre's conventions with his meticulous observation and deductive reasoning.

Key elements commonly found in detective fiction include the brilliant but often flawed detective, a cast of suspicious characters, red herrings designed to mislead the reader, and a climactic reveal where the detective explains how the crime was committed and identifies the culprit. The genre can be broadly categorized into subgenres such as the whodunit, the hardboiled detective story, and the police procedural, each with its own distinct style and focus. Despite variations, the core appeal remains the intellectual challenge of solving the puzzle alongside or before the detective.