Physicians as detectives in detective fiction of the 20th century.

BACKGROUND

Surprisingly few detectives are physicians in 20th-century detective fiction.

METHODS

Potential books with physician-detective characters were located by pursuing all mentions of characters referred to as 'Doctor" in any of several reference materials pertaining to mystery and detective fiction.

RESULTS

As a result of the search, 53 authors whose detective characters are physicians were found. Examination of novels by these authors revealed that early in the 20th century, physicians applied their own specialized scientific knowledge to detection. Mid-century physicians worked by intuition. In the 1990s, science returned to detective fiction in the form of standard forensic procedure, and the level of violence dramatically increased.

CONCLUSION

The relation between science and violence at the end of the 20th century may not be accidental.