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A whodunit (less commonly spelled as whodunnit; a colloquial elision of "Who [has] done it?") is a complex plot-driven variety of detective fiction in which the puzzle regarding who committed the crime is the main focus. [1]
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: a detective story or mystery story. Did you know? In 1930, Donald Gordon, a book reviewer for News of Books, needed to come up with something to say about a rather unremarkable mystery novel called Half-Mast Murder. "A satisfactory whodunit," he wrote.
By Emily Martin. The Whodunit mystery is a genre that has appealed to readers for centuries. But what is a Whodunit mystery? Where did the genre come from and how did it become so popular? And what are the best Whodunit stories out there?
- “The Bothersome Business of The Dutch Nativity” by Derek Wilson
- “Wish You Were Here” by Frank Jones
- “The Adventure of The Crimson Arrow” by Denis Smith
- “The Tuesday Night Club” by Agatha Christie
- “The Bone-Headed League” by Lee Child
- “The Case of The Middle-Aged Wife” by Agatha Christie
- “The Coming of Mr. Quin” by Agatha Christie
- “30 and Out” by Doug Allyn
- “The Marshalsea Handicap” by Gillian Linscott
- “Child’s Play” by Edmund Crispin
Watson tells the story of Holmes’s lost first case. Holmes was enrolled at Grenville College. While riding the train he impressed a man, William Spooner, of New College with his deductive skills. Spooner takes the opportunity to enlist his help with a problem. A valuable Rembrandt painting, Nativity, was stolen from the college. There’s been a spat...
A woman buys an unusual garden gnome, but it disappears soon after. She starts getting postcards signed with an unusual name. (Summary)
Sir George invites notable citizens to his country estate for the weekend. One of the traditions is an archery contest, as Sir George has taken an interest in the sport. One of his guests is Woodforde Soames, the renowned African explorer. On the following Monday, Watson reads in the paper that one of Sir George’s guests was killed by an arrow. The...
A group of friends are socializing at the home of Miss Marple when the conversation turns to unsolved mysteries. Each member of the group believes their profession gives them an advantage in crime solving. They decide to take turns telling a crime mystery of which the teller knows the solution. Then they will put their perceptive powers to the test...
An FBI agent who thoroughly enjoys England is assigned to the embassy in London. The work is easy. He liaises with the police when Americans are involved in a crime. One day, he’s called to Baker Street by Scotland Yard. Some details of the case are obvious references to a story he’s familiar with. His enthusiasm for British things takes over. This...
Mr. Packington leaves for work. Mrs. Packington sits at the kitchen table, first angry and then sad. She reads an ad in the paper by Parker Pyne, who claims he can help unhappy people. She goes to his office. He knows some of her experiences and concerns without being told. He believes he can help her, but his fee is too high. This story can be rea...
Some acquaintances are gathered at Royston, hosted by the Evesham’s, Tom and Laura. Also present is Sir Richard, who is a soldier and traveler, the Portals, and Mr. Satterthwaite, an observant man. He notices Mrs. Portal. Conversation turns to Mr. Capel, the man who used to own the house. He shot himself. This story can be read in the preview of Th...
Jax Ladart has been hired onto the force back in his home county. He’s fresh out of the army, the Military Police. He’s checks in with Sgt. Charles Marx, from Major Crimes, who’s due to retire soon. Marx had helped Jax out years ago, but Jax doesn’t remember him. His attitude about crossing the line has changed. The DEA have requested assistance wi...
The narrator has prepared odds on five inmates of Marshalsea Debtor’s Prison. Mr. Shipman, who they call Father Christmas, has a yearly tradition—he selects one man and pays off his debt. There’s discussion about who is likely to be picked this year. One of the inmates, Mr. Dickens, has a son named Charlie who has impressed Mr. Shipman. This story ...
Judith has just been hired as governess at the Snyder household. She’ll be caring for the three Snyder children—Eve, Tony and Camilla—and Pamela Catesby, who’s parents were killed a month ago. Judith has misgivings about Mrs. Snyder and her children, but she likes Pamela immediately. Judith tries to help Pamela acclimate to her new home. She also w...
- The Dutch Shoe Mystery. By Ellery Queen. What better way to top this list than with a whodunit from Ellery Queen? After all, Queen is “the most important American in mystery fiction,” according to Edgar Award-winning editor Otto Penzler.
- The Album. By Mary Roberts Rinehart. There’s a lot riding on your shoulders when you’re given the nickname “the American Agatha Christie”—but Mary Roberts Rinehart carries the mantle with ease.
- Henrietta Who? By Catherine Aird. Henrietta Jenkins is spending a quiet afternoon at the library when she receives terrible news: her mother was killed that morning in a hit-and-run accident.
- Lord Peter Views the Body. By Dorothy L. Sayers. In his free time, archetypal gentleman sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey enjoys collecting rare books, sampling fine wines, playing the piano—and, naturally, solving murders.
May 6, 2024 · Whodunit stories are defined by a web of suspects, each with their own motives, alibis, and secrets. These characters add depth and complexity to the narrative, creating an intricate puzzle for readers to unravel.
Sep 22, 2021 · Tzvetan Todorov, a structuralist literary critic and sociologist, among many other things, wrote about the structure of the whodunnit as consisting of two different narratives happening in one story. The first narrative is that of the murder - it tells of the events of what happened, how it occurred and why.
