Murdepunkt

Murdepunkt is a term primarily seen in Norwegian-language crime fiction and journalism. It denotes the moment within a narrative when a murder occurs or when that murder is revealed or becomes pivotal to the investigation. The word combines murd- (from murder) with punkt (point), and it is used informally rather than as a formal technical term in criminology.

In fiction and media, murdepunkt often functions as a structural pivot. It marks a scene or turning point that shifts the plot, changes suspect dynamics, or triggers important investigative action. Depending on the work, the murdepunkt may be the moment of the crime itself, the moment a key clue emerges, or the moment the narrative reveals motive or culpability to the audience.

In academic or forensic contexts, murdepunkt is not a standard term. Criminology and forensic science typically describe concepts such as the crime event, the murder scene, or the point of contact between offender and victim using more precise terminology. When used, murdepunkt tends to reflect a storytelling or journalistic framing rather than a scientifically defined phenomenon.

Examples of how the term appears are mostly found in discussions of crime narratives, reviews, or media analyses rather than in formal research. In those contexts, it helps describe how a crime is introduced or resolved within the plot.

See also: crime fiction structure, plot twist, denouement, murder investigation, motive, alibi.

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