And another subset of "timing the murder" is obfuscating the time of death with a false lead, such as a knife wound, when the actual death happened hours before via poison!
I think there was an Agatha Christie book that did that? Or was it one of the Ace Attorney games? Can't remember.
Yes, a classic Christie trick! I've put some of my favourites under point #1. She was the OG creator of so many mystery tricks considered "tropes" today.
Loved the analysis of how time plays a role in good murder mysteries! Another oft-used aspect of time of murder, is in how cold cases are solved years later — either because of the perseverance of detectives who can't let go, or with the help of new technology. I think TV shows and films have thrived on this aspect. Thanks for writing this :)
Yes, really common on the screen. One of my favourites is New Tricks. A team of retired policemen are hired to look into cold cases. Brilliant characters and really good cases.
Whoa! Did NOT expect that ending! Loved this piece on the use of time in fiction! Its definitely going to add to the experience of reading a mystery from now on! Thank you so much for this fantastic piece!
Nice set of reading recommendations and an interesting angle. I found the one with the Rashomon effect very cool. I remember when you launched this Substack on the Write Club group, nice to see it's on S2!
Hey, thanks for reading, Adhithya! Do read Five Little Pigs if you can. Or if you prefer to watc, then the David Suchet adaptation is an amazing film. On SonyLIV.
And another subset of "timing the murder" is obfuscating the time of death with a false lead, such as a knife wound, when the actual death happened hours before via poison!
I think there was an Agatha Christie book that did that? Or was it one of the Ace Attorney games? Can't remember.
Yes, a classic Christie trick! I've put some of my favourites under point #1. She was the OG creator of so many mystery tricks considered "tropes" today.
Loved the analysis of how time plays a role in good murder mysteries! Another oft-used aspect of time of murder, is in how cold cases are solved years later — either because of the perseverance of detectives who can't let go, or with the help of new technology. I think TV shows and films have thrived on this aspect. Thanks for writing this :)
Yes, really common on the screen. One of my favourites is New Tricks. A team of retired policemen are hired to look into cold cases. Brilliant characters and really good cases.
Oh, I haven't come across it. I'll look it up.
Whoa! Did NOT expect that ending! Loved this piece on the use of time in fiction! Its definitely going to add to the experience of reading a mystery from now on! Thank you so much for this fantastic piece!
I'm so glad! 😊
Mysteriously, I enjoyed this so much, for someone who has never read a murder mystery. Would you have a suggestion for an absolute beginner? :)
I LOVE recommending murder mysteries! Here are three that you might like.
1. Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie. A classic from the golden age of detective fiction. Very British with fantastic characters and clueing.
2. The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz. A successor to the classic detection style but set in contemporary times.
3. The Murder of My Aunt by Richard Hull. Black humour at its best.
Nice set of reading recommendations and an interesting angle. I found the one with the Rashomon effect very cool. I remember when you launched this Substack on the Write Club group, nice to see it's on S2!
Hey, thanks for reading, Adhithya! Do read Five Little Pigs if you can. Or if you prefer to watc, then the David Suchet adaptation is an amazing film. On SonyLIV.
Nice, I'll check them out!
Wow! 😮 Love the way you have pulled focus to "time" within mystery reads..never thought of it this way ❤️ Great piece!
Thanks, Ammu! I'm going to try and do a longer version of this soonly.