Some notes on the links between realism and the investigation and on the questions that they raise, or: the minimum requirements and defining properties of the crime novel

In crime novels, there is an obvious link between realism and the investigation being conducted. First, there is a link between the investigation and reality: the reality of hidden worlds, or of visible worlds that are thus made more visible. Then, there is the link between the investigation and the way the crime novel deals with it, whereby the completion of the investigation can turn realism into a game of appearances. There is also a link between the investigation, realism, and specific social groups or the whole of society: murder is, de jure and de facto, public information that involves a public space and social groups.