3 ms·

> An additional commandment I can think of is that the crime has to be something significant, like a murder. I wouldn’t want to read a story about a detective s

> An additional commandment I can think of is that the crime has to be something significant, like a murder. I wouldn’t want to read a story about a detective solving a petty crime or finding a lost dog. Dirk Gently[0] would like a word... [0]] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirk_Gently_(pilot_episode) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirk_Gently_(pilot_episode)

ModernMech 4y ago
I think you've kind of proven my point, as Dirk Gently is more of a comedy than a mystery. The absurdity of a detective finding a lost cat is what makes it funny. And then all the rest about time travel... I mean, if you want to make a comedy mystery you would want to violate as many of these "commandments" as you could.
- nobody9999 4y ago
  >I think you've kind of proven my point, as Dirk Gently is more of a comedy than a mystery. The absurdity of a detective finding a lost cat is what makes it funny. And then all the rest about time travel... I mean, if you want to make a comedy mystery you would want to violate as many of these "commandments" as you could. A reasonable point. Although I'd say that humor (if done well) is a boon, rather than a detriment to mysteries (most fiction, actually). And cats always make things better[2]! As someone who enjoys mystery novels, I've noted that minor mysteries are often used as a device to bring the detective into situations where larger issues may be afoot[0][1]. It seems to me that if a mystery is engaging, the underlying "crime" isn't as relevant as the storytelling, clue planting and the thought process of the detective. At the same time, mysteries generally deal with serious crimes (especially murder), as it amps up the (fictional) stakes and provides a reason for the interest and participation of the detective. But that needn't be the case -- as long as the mystery is interesting, the prose is of good quality and the characters engaging. At least that's my take. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Red-Headed_League https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Red-Headed_League [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventure_of_the_Clapham_Cook_(short_story) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventure_of_the_Clapham_C... [2] cf. Lillian Jackson Braun's "The Cat Who..." mysteries[3]. [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_Who_series https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_Who_series Edit: Fixed reference indices.
everybodyknows 4y ago
> ... a plot involving time travel A violation of Knox Rule number II.
- marcosdumay 4y ago
  Oh, it's not a problem. It's clear from the beginning that it involves time travel, and the story unrolls perfectly linearly.

ModernMech 4y ago

I think you've kind of proven my point, as Dirk Gently is more of a comedy than a mystery. The absurdity of a detective finding a lost cat is what makes it funny. And then all the rest about time travel... I mean, if you want to make a comedy mystery you would want to violate as many of these "commandments" as you could.

nobody9999 4y ago
>I think you've kind of proven my point, as Dirk Gently is more of a comedy than a mystery. The absurdity of a detective finding a lost cat is what makes it funny. And then all the rest about time travel... I mean, if you want to make a comedy mystery you would want to violate as many of these "commandments" as you could. A reasonable point. Although I'd say that humor (if done well) is a boon, rather than a detriment to mysteries (most fiction, actually). And cats always make things better[2]! As someone who enjoys mystery novels, I've noted that minor mysteries are often used as a device to bring the detective into situations where larger issues may be afoot[0][1]. It seems to me that if a mystery is engaging, the underlying "crime" isn't as relevant as the storytelling, clue planting and the thought process of the detective. At the same time, mysteries generally deal with serious crimes (especially murder), as it amps up the (fictional) stakes and provides a reason for the interest and participation of the detective. But that needn't be the case -- as long as the mystery is interesting, the prose is of good quality and the characters engaging. At least that's my take. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Red-Headed_League https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Red-Headed_League [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventure_of_the_Clapham_Cook_(short_story) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventure_of_the_Clapham_C... [2] cf. Lillian Jackson Braun's "The Cat Who..." mysteries[3]. [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_Who_series https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_Who_series Edit: Fixed reference indices.

everybodyknows 4y ago

> ... a plot involving time travel A violation of Knox Rule number II.

marcosdumay 4y ago
Oh, it's not a problem. It's clear from the beginning that it involves time travel, and the story unrolls perfectly linearly.