whodunit
Pronunciation
  • (British, America) IPA: /ˌhuːˈdʌn.ɪt/
Noun

whodunit (plural whodunits)

  1. A novel or drama concerning a crime (usually a murder) in which a detective follows clues to determine the perpetrator.
    • 1946, Josephina Niggli. Pointers on radio writing (Boston: The Writer, Inc.) page 25
      Actually, an whodunit is a mystery story. The hero is generally a detective, although sometimes he is a gentleman (apparently a mild mannered worm) who sallies forth at night to become Public Enemy No. One of Crime. Otherwise, the formula is exactly the same as that of the Cliff-hanger and follows the same rules.
Related terms Translations
  • French: roman de détection, roman à énigme
  • German: Kriminalroman, (colloquial) Krimi, Detektivroman
  • Portuguese: romance criminal
  • Russian: детекти́вный рома́н
  • Spanish: novela policíaca, novela policial



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