Whodunit

A "whodunit" (also sometimes spelled "whodunnit") is a complex, plot-driven genre of detective fiction in which the audience is given the opportunity to solve the mystery alongside the fictional detective(s). The term is a colloquial contraction of "Who [has] done it?" and typically refers to a story where the identity of the perpetrator is concealed from the reader until the climax.

Key characteristics of the whodunit include:

• A closed circle of suspects: The story typically features a limited number of characters, all of whom have a plausible motive and opportunity to commit the crime. This allows the reader to carefully consider each suspect.

• Clues and red herrings: The author strategically plants clues throughout the narrative to guide the reader towards the correct solution. Simultaneously, red herrings are introduced to mislead and create suspense.

• Logical deduction: The detective uses reason and observation to analyze the clues and deduce the identity of the perpetrator. The reader is expected to be able to follow this reasoning and potentially solve the mystery themselves.

• Fair play: The author is expected to play fair with the reader by providing all the necessary information to solve the puzzle. The solution should be logically consistent with the clues presented. Hidden evidence or sudden revelations are generally frowned upon.

• Focus on the puzzle: The primary emphasis is on the intellectual challenge of solving the crime, rather than on character development or social commentary, although these elements may still be present.

The whodunit flourished during the Golden Age of Detective Fiction (roughly the 1920s to the 1940s), with authors such as Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Ellery Queen establishing many of the conventions of the genre. The whodunit continues to be a popular form of entertainment in literature, film, television, and games. Subgenres include the locked-room mystery, where the crime occurs in a seemingly impossible location, and the inverted detective story, where the audience knows the identity of the perpetrator from the beginning, and the focus is on how the detective will uncover the truth.