An investigative fiction. Since detective novels are all about investigations, this name makes sense. In these types of stories, there is always an investigation going on, whether it's by a professional detective, an amateur sleuth, or someone who just stumbles upon a mystery. The plot is driven by the steps and discoveries made during the investigation process, and this name encompasses that aspect quite well.
A noir tale can also be considered as another name in some cases. Detective novels often have elements of noir, which includes a dark and moody atmosphere, complex characters, and a sense of moral ambiguity. Many classic detective novels with a gritty and shadowy setting can be described as noir tales. They typically deal with seedy underbellies of society and the darker aspects of human nature that a detective has to navigate through to solve the case.
A sleuth story. 'Sleuth' is another word for a detective, so a sleuth story is essentially a detective story.
A mystery story. It often involves solving a crime or uncovering a secret, just like a detective story.
Well, another name could be a crime novel. Detective novels often revolve around solving crimes, and crime novels have a similar focus on criminal activities and the process of uncovering the truth behind them. They usually involve elements like a crime scene, suspects, and a protagonist, often a detective or someone with investigative skills, trying to piece together what really happened. So, crime novel is a valid alternative name.
A noir story can be considered as another name in a sense. Noir stories often have a detective - like figure and involve elements of mystery and crime. They typically have a dark and moody atmosphere which is also common in many detective stories.
In a detective story, names matter. 'Griffin' could be a name for a shrewd detective, it has an air of intelligence. 'Natalie' is a common but effective name for a detective's assistant, perhaps. And 'Dexter' has a double meaning, it can imply someone who is dexterous in solving crimes but also has a bit of an edge.
Well, 'the commencement' is another way to refer to the start of a story. It's like the story is about to commence, start its journey, and draw the reader in from that very first moment.
The start of a story can also be called the 'opening'. For example, in many novels, the opening sets the scene, introduces the main characters or gives a hint about the main conflict.