Whodunit and Its Contemporary Reconfiguration in Rigby’s The Lost Girls of Penzance

Abstract

This research analyzes Sally Rigby’s novel, The Lost Girls of Penzance (2023), through the framework of Tzvetan Todorov’s theory of the whodunit to explore how the novel adheres to and diverges from traditional detective story conventions. Todorov’s theory, outlined in his essay The Typology of Detective Fiction(1966), proposes a dual narrative structure characteristic of the whodunit genre firstly the "story of the crime", which occurs before the novel begins, and the "story of the investigation", which discloses as the plot progresses. Rigby’s novel employs this structure effectively. The "Story of the Crime" involves the abduction of young girls and on the other hand murders which occurred almost two decades earlier, gradually revealed through flashbacks and the detective’s discoveries, aligning with Todorov’s description of the genre's structure. Secondly, Story of the Investigation, DI Pengelly is on leave but still manages to take over the investigation because of her ability and her dedication to serve her community and her professional commitment. There is also a diversity of plot elements and themes used by Rigby to make the story even more multifaceted and interesting. These include Clues and Red Herrings later on resolution. In addition, the novel introduces innovative elements, which are somehow antagonist to the conventions of the genre such as the story set in a small town, the atmospheric tension evoked by the rough coastline of Cornwall, and the exploration of themes like trauma, morality and how the past affects the present. The study concludes that while The Lost Girls of Penzance (2023) conforms to the essentials of the genre of whodunit as specified by Todorov, it also broadens the boundaries of the genre through implementation of the contemporary themes and a unique setting. The current research will make a valuable contribution to the understanding of how the modern writers of crime fiction, such as Sally Rigby, are being innovative within the traditional genre structure, addressing the contemporary issues and literary tendencies. Further research could involve a comparative study of Rigby’s work with other detective novels of the time to look at the evolution of the whodunit in the modern literature.