The Burnt Orange Heresy is a 1971 satirical and darkly comedic crime novel written by Charles Willeford.
James Figueras is an up-and-coming but broke art critic seeking a way to propel himself into the spotlight of the world of art criticism. Opportunity strikes when wealthy attorney Joseph Cassidy asks James to interview the reclusive but famous French surrealist painter Jacques Deberiue, but on the condition that Figueras steal one of Deberiue's paintings and bring it to him. James agrees, and drags his loving yet beleaguered girlfriend Berenice Holocene along for the ride, only for the heist to go wrong on almost every level imaginable.
List of tropes applying to this novel:
- Affably Evil: Cassidy is friendly and jovial, if somewhat backhanded about it, and casually admits he's not too knowledgeable about art. He still hires James to steal one of Deberiue's paintings and has him confined to a nursing home after he does so.
- Amoral Attorney: Joseph Cassidy is a wealthy criminal attorney who hires James to steal one of Deberiue's paintings. It's clear this isn't the first time he's dabbled in crime, nor will it be the last.
- Cool Old Guy: Zig-Zagged by Jacques Deberiue. He's a kindly if eccentric old man who loves watching drive-in movies and is the perfect host, but his career is based on a lie: he never created a painting in his life, and his famed exhibit No. One was just an empty and cracked frame.
- Downer Ending: James murders Berenice out of fear of her testifying against him, and gives Cassidy a forged Deberiue painting after burning down the man's house. Cassidy confines Deberiue to a nursing home until he dies, while James becomes a successful art critic. However, he quickly becomes bored with his fame and turns himself in for Berenice's murder, though he covers up Cassidy's involvement.
- It's All About Me: James is insanely self-centered, and thinks of his own well-being above all else. When Berenice returns and tearfully apologizes after briefly leaving him early in the novel, the only thing James can think of is that he'll force her to make him coffee afer she's calmed down. And later, when she tries to talk him out of burgling Deberiue's house:Berenice: Don't do it James. Please don't do it!
James: Why, for God's sake?
Berenice: Because Deberiue doesn't want you to, that's why!
James: That's not a reason. - Jerkass: James. He's a pretentious snob who constantly snidely insults and emotionally abuses poor Berenice, and he's almost relentlessly selfish and never gives a thought to anyone's well-being outside of his own.
- Karma Houdini: Cassidy gets away with everything, since James refuses to admit his involvement even after turning himself in for Berenice's death.
- Nice Girl:
- Berenice is an absolute sweetheart and a loving girlfriend who is always nice to everyone. Of course, James constantly insults her for her supposed stupidity and repeatedly accuses her of being fat.
- Deberiue is a polite, kindly old man with an endearingly goofy personality. Berenice even has second thoughts about robbing him because of just how nice he is.
- Only Sane Woman: Berenice is a kind, decent woman who is the only one to realize how shortsighted James's scheme is and how horrific his actions are. Both because of the affront to his ego and because he fears she'll tell the police about his crimes, James beats her to death with a tire iron.
- Too Good for This Sinful Earth: Berenice and Deberiue, the only two genuinely decent and good-natured characters, both die.
- Villain Protagonist: James is a pretentious snob and a ruthless thief and murderer.
