whydunnit

Definition

A subgenre of mystery fiction that prioritizes exploring the motive and psychological reasoning behind a crime, rather than focusing primarily on identifying who committed the act.

Etymology

The term is a humorous, informal portmanteau derived from 'why done it,' constructed by mimicking the structure of the traditional literary term 'whodunnit,' which itself is a colloquial contraction of 'who done it'.

In the news

The article uses the term to distinguish Agatha Christie’s more character-driven, motive-focused novels from her classic 'whodunnit' puzzles, highlighting her interest in human nature.

From 'Crooked House' to 'Endless Night', atmospheric Agatha Christie novels that deserve a second read

Livemint

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