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 |  This is a continuation of my blogging here at WdC |
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This will be a blog for my writing, maybe with (too much) personal thrown in. I am hoping it will be a little more interactive, with me answering questions, helping out and whatnot. If it falls this year (2024), then I may stop the whole blogging thing, but that's all a "wait and see" scenario. An index of topics can be found here: "Writing Blog No.2 Index"  Feel free to comment and interact. |
| Annoying Mystery Tropes This came from a suggestion and discussion with Adhere - Definitely Writing   who gave me the ideas for some of these and allowed me to bounce ideas. Cheers, mate!Now, I don’t read much mystery stuff, but my ex does, and she had two gripes, which are here. I have read a bit of Agatha Christie, and had to read some mystery stuff at uni, but have read a couple of anthologies of shorts recently. And it is clear Mr Adherennium reads mysteries, judging by his own writing. So between us all, I think this is a reasonable list of 5 annoying mystery tropes! 1. Dying words The victim is found on the verge of death, usually by the hero-inspector, and what do they say? “At midnight, the rooster will eat popcorn.” Or maybe, “You need to ask Evans.” Or even, “It… it… it… Gah!” Why don’t they just say, “It was Captain Peacock, with the lead pipe, in the billiard room!” Instead of naming their killer, it’s always something weird that only when the story is done do you go, “Ah, that’s what that meant. I get it now.” 2. Leaving clues The criminals have the best plan and think they are oh so very clever, so clever that no-one will ever catch them. So what does the criminal do? They deliberately leave clues! Sure, they might be baiting the police, but it’s hardly clever, and always leads to their downfall. Trying to prove they are clever, and it never works. Except if you’re jack the Ripper… but, then again, they identified him, only more than 150 years later… 3. The police are useless So very common in private detective fiction. Okay, yes, based on reality, but… still… The police are obstructive, incompetent or, sometimes, even corrupt, so the detective has to go it alone, and work above the law. And if the detective is a cop, it will be the local lads who are all of tis, or there will be an obstructive boss. Then the detective goes all Dirty Harry and gets away with it! Or maybe it’s more subtle; after all, what’s a little break and enter amongst friends? 4. Admitting because nothing will come of it The killer has the detective in a position that could never get out of, ready to kill them. The detective asks a simple, “How did you do it?” and the killer responds, “Well, I might as well tell you; it’s not like you can tell anyone else.” And then they give it all away! Why? You daft pillock, there’s police around (even if they’re useless) or an off-sider. And you just blurt it all out because “you might as well.” You deserve to be arrested by a 90 year old blind woman in a wheelchair! 5. The killer breaks down This is the one I hate the most. After a lot of questioning, being confronted with the most circumstantial of evidence, and in the presence of the most inane lawyer ever, the killer breaks down and admits it. Sure, “I would have got away with it, too, if it weren’t for you kids and your stupid mutt!” works for a kids cartoon, but not an adult book or TV series! At the very least, the lawyer should have clamped their hand over the accused’s mouth and said, “No comment!” But, no, full admission. So, five annoying mystery tropes. And they are more than tropes – they are clichés. Please think of something else! Or don’t. It’s your story. |
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