M.A. (African Languages) / The purpose of this study is to make a critical evaluation of M.A. Kekana's Nnete fela applying the basic elements of a detective novel. Use will be made of the views of different scholars and authorities on the detective novel. Northern Sotho has very few books that can be said to be true detective novels. Attempts in this regard were made by, amongst others, D.N. Moloto with his work Tshipu e rile ke lebelo (1962), H.N.D. Bopape with his novel Lenong la gauta (1982) and V.M. Moloto with the book Letlapa la bophelo (1983). We also have very few works in Northern Sotho evaluating and criticising the detective novel, hence this humble attempt. The traditional approach will be used by which the features of a detective novel will be applied to the chosen text.