“Private eye, in old crime novels” crossword clue

Reveal the answer to see why it works and where this clue has appeared before.TEC is the answer to the New York Times crossword clue “Private eye, in old crime novels”. It was last seen in the puzzle of April 15, 2025, where it runs at 9 Down and fills 3 squares. It crosses 3 other entries in that grid — those are listed below and are the quickest way to confirm the letters you already have.