This chapter offers an entry point into the complexities of representing the Holocaust using the patterns and tropes of crime fiction. It explores the ethical dilemmas and narrative difficulties that arise in portraying the Holocaust, the persistent tension between historical accuracy and the demands of storytelling, and the problematic nature of creating a comprehensible narrative in relation to an event characterized by immense scale and inherent plotlessness. The chapter addresses the implications of these challenges for all forms of Holocaust representation, with a particular focus on Holocaust representations in popular culture, thus establishing the context for the study of Holocaust crime fiction. Historically, crime fiction has been seen as a low-status form of literature, often dismissed as trivial or as an inappropriate medium for serious subjects. However, crime fiction offers valuable avenues for engaging with the Holocaust, ranging from its focus on criminality, investigation, justice, retribution, and responsibility, to its past-oriented nature and ability to evoke moral and social complexity.