Definition: The detective story is a genre of fiction in which a detective, either an amateur or a professional, solves a crime or a series of crimes. Because detective stories rely on logic, supernatural elements rarely come into play. The detective may be a private investigator, a policeman, an elderly widow, or a young girl, but he or she generally has nothing material to gain from solving the crime. Subgenres include the cozy and the hard-boiled detective story.
For a more complete list of the rules of the genre, see "Ten Rules for Writing Mysteries."
Also Known As: detective novel, mystery novel
Examples: Many detective stories have been made into classic films, including "The Maltese Falcon" and "The Thin Man."
