'Why don't we have a Sherlock Holmes in Malayalam?' was one topic that was widely discussed at the 'Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters'.  

Writer and novelist CV Balakrishnan said that crime fiction category of Malayalam literature is highly underdeveloped and the main reason is attributed to the attitude taken by social critics against this section. 

He also said that even though there is much talent around there is lack of seriousness among writers in this category making it as naive. He also raised the suspicion on effectiveness when the writers indulge in stories with foreign backgrounds without travelling there. 

Noted literary critic PK Rajasekharan said that there exists a common psychology to degrade the crime fiction writers and the writers themselves have accepted the degradation making it a passive category. There are no new experiments taking place in this branch of literature.

Writer Subash Chandran who also took part in the discussion said that one reason could be that in a contry like England, crimes are so serious offences and hence its literature is widely discussed. In a country like India, anyone can easily walk away after committing a crime. Crimes are not that serious crimes anymore. Even the common man thinks crime is a casual incident and hence nobody takes in sense it should be taken. 

Detective novelist GR Indugopan said that conspiracies and mysteries are one topic that people need to read. To popularise this stream, we need more celebrities to enter this field of writing.
Indugopan also opinioned that crime fiction is one section that acts as a bridge between the main stream literarture and the parallel one. Until now it is safe and smooth, but needs new talents preferably women writers, to keep it going, he added.