noun

whodunit

who-DUN-it/ˌhuˈdʌnɪt/

A mystery story focused on discovering who committed a crime.

This whodunit keeps me guessing until the very last page.

Detective examines clues beside a closed mystery novel, suspenseful crime puzzle without violence.

Etymology

whoEnglishwhich person

+dunEnglishperform or commit

+itEnglishthe act in question

The playful question “who done it?” became a name for a murder mystery, turning the story’s central puzzle—the culprit’s identity—into its genre label.

More examples

She reads a whodunit on every long flight.
In a good whodunit, even small clues matter.
His whodunits always give several suspects convincing motives.

Forms

whodunit · whodunits

Similar words

mystery: Broader term; the central puzzle need not involve a crime.
detective story: Emphasizes a detective's investigation rather than only the culprit's identity.