Detective novels are a genre of fiction that focus on the investigation of a crime, typically a murder. The story usually follows a detective, who may be a professional investigator or an amateur sleuth, as they gather clues, interview suspects, and solve the mystery. These novels often feature a plot twist and a resolution that reveals the culprit. The genre has roots in the works of authors like Edgar Allan Poe and Arthur Conan Doyle, whose famous character Sherlock Holmes set the standard for many detective stories. Detective novels often explore themes of justice, morality, and the human psyche, engaging readers in the puzzle of solving the crime.