Why is first person narrative so popular in detective novels?

Readers answer other readers' questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific concepts
  
  

Dick Powell and Claire Trevor in Farewell My Lovely
You're all me, me, me … Dick Powell and Claire Trevor in Farewell My Lovely (aka Murder, My Sweet), adapted from Chandler's novel. Photograph: Ronald Grant Archive Photograph: Ronald Grant Archive

Crime fiction is generally written in first person rather than in third person, eg Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. Why is this?

Nicholas Jury, Edinburgh

• Post your answers – and new questions – below or email them to nq@theguardian.com. Please include name, address and phone number

 

Leave a Comment

Required fields are marked *

*

*