History Literature / WhyDidntTheyAskEvans

* SnarkToSnarkCombat: Frankie and Bobby.

* CerebusCallback: Early on, Bobby and Frankie are annoyed with the titular question and agree people's LastWords should be a nice, firm statement. [[spoiler: When they're imprisoned by Roger, they prepare to exchange their own final statements with each other.]]

* [[spoiler: DyingDeclarationOfLove / InterruptedDeclarationOfLove: Bobby finally confesses his feelings for Frankie when they're about to be killed by Roger. Then Knocker bursts in.]]
--> [[spoiler: '''Bobby''': ''"No questions, agreed? A statement."'']]
--> [[spoiler: '''Frankie''': ''"Definitely a statement. You first."'']]
--> [[spoiler: '''Bobby''': ''"Frankie, for as long as I've known you - "'' (Knocker falls through the window)]]

* LastWords: The last words of a dying stranger drive the mystery of the book. In the series, Bobby and Frankie lampshade this, saying how annoying it is to end your life on a question instead of a nice, firm statement. [[spoiler: Get's a CerebusCallback later, when they're imprisoned and preparing to exchange their own last words.]]

* ShipperOnDeck: Knocker for Bobby/Frankie, teasingly calling Frankie "your girl" despite Bobby's protests. [[spoiler: Hilariously, Roger Bassington-ffrench is revealed to be a fan as well - taking the time in their final conversation (while he's in prison no less) to ask when the pair are getting married.]]

* AdaptedOut: Bobby's three older brothers are omitted, adding greater weight to the dynamic with his father.

* SamusIsAGirl: Bobby and Frankie spend the whole book wondering who Evans is, only to find out that Evans was [[spoiler:the Templeton's parlormaid.]]

* AdaptationalExplanation: Several:

* AdaptationalExpansion: The series greater weight to Bobby's time in the Navy, including that he rose to the rank of lieutenant, saved Knocker's life when they served together, and is generally more impacted by the experience.

* WatchingTheReflectionUndress: Added in this adaption:

* AdaptationalExpansion: The 2022 miniseries gives greater weight to Bobby's time in the Navy, including that he rose to the rank of lieutenant, saved Knocker's life when they served together, and is generally more haunted by the experience.
* AdaptationalExplanation: Several in the series:

** Originally [[spoiler: Roger Bassington-ffrench disguised shooting Henry during a convenient overhead plane. In the series, the house has regular shots going off to scare the birds which provides a more plausible and premeditated cover.]]
* AdaptationNameChange: Bobby's friend and business partner Beadon goes by "Badger" in the book, but "Knocker" in the 2022 series.
* AdaptedOut: Bobby's three older brothers are omitted in the series, adding greater weight to the dynamic with his father.
* BackseatChangingRoom: Seen in the 2022 TV adaptation...

* CostumePorn: In the series Frankie wears a selection of gorgeous 1930's outfits, from formal wear to biker jackets.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Bobby's first scene has him going to a dying man's aid and then rushing off because he promised to play for the church service, reflecting his kind nature and tendency to put honour before reason.
** Frankie is introduced scolding Bobby for using her childhood nickname, before revealing that she was teasing and using his own nickname in turn - establishing her as fun-loving, and unbothered by airs and graces.

* SpoiledSweet: Despite being the daughter of a lord, Frankie is down-to-earth and friendly with everyone. [[spoiler: Lampshaded when Moira calls her an entitled arrogant bitch, and Frankie hits back that she's literally entitled but won't accept the others.]]
* WatchingTheReflectionUndress: Seen in the 2022 TV adaptation:

!!Tropes:

* AdaptationalExpansion: The 2022 miniseries gives greater weight to Bobby's time in the Navy, including that he rose to the rank of lieutenant, saved Knocker's life when they served together, and is generally more haunted by the experience.
* AdaptationalExplanation: Several in the series:
** In the book, Bobby [[spoiler: survives his poisoning attempt due to an unexplained medical miracle, while in the series he gets sick manning a carnival ride and vomits up the poison.]]
** Originally [[spoiler: Roger Bassington-ffrench disguised shooting Henry during a convenient overhead plane. In the series, the house has regular shots going off to scare the birds which provides a more plausible and premeditated cover.]]
* AdaptationNameChange: Bobby's friend and business partner Beadon goes by "Badger" in the book, but "Knocker" in the 2022 series.
* AdaptedOut: Bobby's three older brothers are omitted in the series, adding greater weight to the dynamic with his father.

* BackseatChangingRoom: Seen in the 2022 TV adaptation...
** Frankie leaves the hospital where Bobby is recovering and gets changed in the back of a car driven by her family's long-suffering chauffeur. Unfortunately for Bobby, the clothes she changed out of were "borrowed" from him. As Frankie gets changed, she calmly admonishes the chauffeur for consulting the rearview more often than necessary.

* BlondeBrunetteRedhead: Moira, Frankie, and Sylvia.

* CostumePorn: In the series Frankie wears a selection of gorgeous 1930's outfits, from formal wear to biker jackets.

** Frankie is introduced scolding Bobby for using her childhood nickname, before revealing that she was teasing and using his own nickname in turn - establishing her as fun-loving, and unbothered by airs and graces.

* GallowsHumour: [[spoiler: When facing certain death, Bobby and Frankie comfort each other by joking that they'd be saved if only Roger knew they were too stupid to ever solve the mystery.]]
--> [[spoiler: '''Bobby''': [to Roger] ''"You zap me with 50,000 volts until I can't remember my own name or your name, more to the point."'']]
--> [[spoiler: '''Frankie''': [laughing] ''"Except you don't need 50,000 volts with brains like ours. Five ought to do it."'']]
* GoodLookingPrivates: Frankie recalls Bobby looked "dreamy" in his navy uniform and also admires him in the chauffeur get-up.

** This is highlighted in the 2022 version, with Bobby almost being run over by Frankie's snobbish cousin and having to serve her aristocratic friends at the carnival.

* LaserGuidedKarma: Bobby refuses a once-in-a-lifetime job offer because he'd already promised to start a car dealership with Badger/Knocker. [[spoiler: The job offer turned out to be a ploy to kill him off, meaning his loyalty saved his life.]]

* NiceToTheWaiter: Frankie is good friends with her chauffeur, and happily gallivants around with used car salesmen Bobby and Knocker.

* SheIsAllGrownUp: Bobby has this reaction when he sees Frankie again, although he also had a crush on her when they were younger.
* ShipperOnDeck: Knocker for Bobby/Frankie, teasingly calling Frankie "your girl" despite Bobby's protests. [[spoiler: Hilariously, Roger Bassington-ffrench is revealed to be a fan as well - taking the time in their final conversation (while he's in prison no less) to ask when the pair are getting married.]]

* SnarkToSnarkCombat: Frankie and Bobby.

* SpoiledSweet: Despite being the daughter of a lord, Frankie is down-to-earth and friendly with everyone. [[spoiler: Lampshaded when Moira calls her an entitled arrogant bitch, and Frankie hits back that she's literally entitled but won't accept the others.]]

* WatchingTheReflectionUndress: Seen in the 2022 TV adaptation:
** Frankie leaves the hospital where Bobby is recovering and gets changed in the back of a car driven by her family's long-suffering chauffeur. Unfortunately for Bobby, the clothes she changed out of were "borrowed" from him. As Frankie gets changed, she calmly admonishes the chauffeur for consulting the rearview more often than necessary.
** Later, after Bobby leaves the hospital still in his scrubs, Frankie gives him a lift so the two can properly discuss matters. He takes the opportunity to change back into his clothes in the backseat, whilst Frankie (now in the front) gives him more than a casual glance in the rear-view mirror. This does not escape the attention of the same chauffeur, with her calmly but sheepishly telling him to "[[HypocrisyNod Do as I say, not as I do.]]"

* YouMeddlingKids: A good part of the EpilogueLetter consists of this.

* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Bobby's first scene has him running to an injured man's aid and then rushing to play at the church service, reflecting his kind nature and tendency to put honour before reason.
** Frankie is introduced scolding Bobby for using her childhood nickname, before revealing that she was teasing and using his own nickname in turn - establishing her as fun-loving, loyal and not bothered by airs & graces.

* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Bobby's first scene has him running to an injured man's aid and then rushing to get to organ-playing on time reflecting his kind and honourable nature.

* SpoiledSweet: Frankie is the daughter of a wealthy peer, but is fun-loving, down-to-earth and friendly with everyone. [[spoiler: Lampshaded when Moira calls her an entitled arrogant bitch, and Frankie hits back that she's literally entitled but won't accept the others.]]

* SpellMyNameWithAnS: The suspect that Frankie and Bobby chase has the ridiculous name of Roger Bassington-ffrench, that lowercase double-f being a [[https://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2017/08/ff-names.html weird British quirk]].

* GoodLookingPrivates: Frankie recalls how dreamy Bobby looked in his navy uniform and also admires him in the chauffeur uniform get-up.
* GreenEyedMonster: Played both ways, with Frankie getting jealous of Bobby's protectiveness of Moira and Bobby getting jealous of Frankie's affection for Roger. They snipe at each other about it [[spoiler: before finally getting together. And also discovering Moira and Roger are both murderers.]]

* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler:Moira]] is caught, but her partner in crime [[spoiler:Roger]], who did the actual murdering, escapes to South America. He even writes Frankie an EpilogueLetter.

* LaserGuidedKarma: Bobby refuses a once-in-a-lifetime job offer because he'd already promised to go into business with Badger/Knocker. [[spoiler: The job offer turned out to be a ploy to kill him off, meaning his loyalty saved his life.]]

* LeaveTheTwoLovebirdsAlone: Rev. Jones accidentally leads a group of people into the room where Frankie and Bobby are kissing, and immediately shuts the door and announces that his son is engaged.
* MakeItLookLikeAnAccident: The book opens with [[spoiler:Alan Carstairs]] taking a bad step in the fog at the Marchbolt golf course and falling off a cliff. [[spoiler:He was pushed by Roger.]]

** After Bobby and Frankie are captured, [[spoiler:Roger]] says they will soon have an 'accident', their car making a wrong turn and falling into a quarry.

** In the book, Bobby [[spoiler: survives his poisoning attempt due to pure luck, while in the series he gets sick on a carnival ride and vomits up the poison.]]
** Originally [[spoiler: Roger Bassington-ffrench disguised shooting Henry during a convenient passing plane. In the series, the house has regular rigged shots going off to scare away the birds which provides a more plausible and premeditated cover.]]

* AdaptedOut: Bobby's three older brothers are omitted in the series, adding greater weight to his and his father's relationship.