Beyond "Whodunnit".

The article examines how Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories transcend the traditional "whodunnit" mystery by also exploring "what was done," "why it was done," and "how it was done." It highlights Holmes’s innovative approach to detective fiction, which influenced later authors such as Agatha Christie, whose character Hercule Poirot reflects Holmes’s investigative style. Through examples from Holmes’s novels and short stories, the article illustrates Conan Doyle’s creative plotting and complex narrative techniques that extend beyond identifying the perpetrator to understanding motives and methods. This broader focus established a standard for detective fiction during the Victorian, Edwardian, and Golden Age periods and continues to shape the genre.