Crime and Detective Fiction Studies
Crime and Detective Fiction Studies is a research topic within Literature and Literary Theory. Science Explorer counts 4.8k research works in it since 1950. 15.5% of them reached the world's top 10% most cited for their field and year.
This cluster of papers explores the evolution of crime fiction in modern literature, with a focus on iconic detectives like Sherlock Holmes, forensic science, societal fascination with criminality, and the intersection of crime narratives with urban geography, racial representation, and feminist perspectives. The cluster also delves into the influence of globalization on crime fiction and its portrayal of identity.
- Sherlock Holmes
- Detective Stories
- Forensic Science
- Criminality
- Gothic Literature
- Identity
- Urban Geography
- Racial Representation
- Feminist Crime Fiction
- Globalization
- Research works
- 4.8k fractional, since 1950
- In the world top 10%
- 740 per year above
- Top-10% rate
- 15.5% share of its works in the world top 10%
- Growth, 2013–17 → 2018–22
- +26% the tick is no change
Which countries lead Crime and Detective Fiction Studies research?
By volume, the United States and the United Kingdom publish the most (194 and 138 works in 2022–2025).
By volume, 2022–2025
- 1 United States 194 works
- 2 United Kingdom 138 works
- 3 France 64 works
- 4 Germany 62 works
- 5 Australia 57 works
- 6 Spain 37 works
- 7 India 37 works
- 8 Canada 33 works
- 9 China 31 works
- 10 Russia 31 works
How concentrated that is
The same countries as shares of everything the list above accounts for. A node where two countries do two thirds of the work and one spread evenly across twelve read alike as a ranking and not at all alike here.
Shares of the rows listed above, not of the whole node.
Which institutions lead Crime and Detective Fiction Studies research?
By volume in 2022–2025, Film Independent publishes the most Crime and Detective Fiction Studies research, followed by Monash University and University of Hull.
By volume, 2022–2025
- 1 Film IndependentUnited States 10 works
- 2 Monash UniversityAustralia 9 works
- 3 University of HullUnited Kingdom 7 works
- 4 Sheffield Hallam UniversityUnited Kingdom 6 works
- 5 University of St AndrewsUnited Kingdom 6 works
- 6 University of NottinghamUnited Kingdom 6 works
- 7 University of CambridgeUnited Kingdom 5 works
- 8 University of WarsawPoland 5 works
- 9 Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and LawGermany 5 works
- 10 University of WolverhamptonUnited Kingdom 5 works
Where is Crime and Detective Fiction Studies research done?
The largest centres of Crime and Detective Fiction Studies research in 2022–2025 are Melbourne (Australia), London (United Kingdom), Moscow (Russia) and Paris (France).
Largest cities, 2022–2025
Where is the best place to study Crime and Detective Fiction Studies?
Among universities, judged by research, Monash University score highest, combining excellence, specialisation, size, growth and international reach. Research strength is one signal when choosing where to study; it does not measure teaching.
| # | University | Score | Top 10% | Specialisation | Works | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monash UniversityAustralia | 55.0 | 13.4% | 11.9× | 9 | +151.6% |
Universities only. Score blends excellence (30%), specialisation (25%), size (20%), growth (15%) and international reach (10%), 2015–2022; growth compares 2010–14 with 2015–19.
Is Crime and Detective Fiction Studies research growing?
Output in 2018–2022 was 26% higher than in 2013–2017, peaking in 2025. The fastest-growing topics are Crime and Detective Fiction Studies.
The same series as a ribbon — one cell per year, darker for more. The line above answers how much; this answers when.
Which topics inside it are moving
Growth and decline on one axis around a shared zero. Two lists side by side hide the thing that matters: whether the growth dwarfs the decline, or the other way round.