Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* AmbiguousSituation: In the short story "The Little Room" it's not clear if [[spoiler:the victim was murdered or if she [[DrivenToSuicide cut her own throat]] from despair after being locked up by the story's villain]].
Added DiffLines:
* DomesticAbuse: The titular victim in "The Drowning of Edgar Foley" was a notorious wife-beater, which led to his death.
Added DiffLines:
* JusticeByOtherLegalMeans: Deconstructed in "The Little Room", in which [[spoiler:the villain, who [[AmbiguousSituation probably]] murdered a young woman and at the very least falsely imprisoned her, cannot be charged with either crime due to lack of evidence. The police can and do charge her with concealing a body to prevent an inquest, but this carries a maximum sentence of about a week in jail so she pretty much [[KarmaHoudini gets away with it]] anyway]].
* KarmaHoudini: A few of the short stories end with the villain getting away, such as [[spoiler:"The Little Room"]], [[spoiler:"The Golden Mean"]] and likely the blackmailer in [[spoiler:"The Drowning of Edgar Foley"]].
* KarmaHoudini: A few of the short stories end with the villain getting away, such as [[spoiler:"The Little Room"]], [[spoiler:"The Golden Mean"]] and likely the blackmailer in [[spoiler:"The Drowning of Edgar Foley"]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
[[quoteright:298:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gilded_fly.png]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
** ''The Long Divorce'' is part of a line from ''Theatre/HenryVIII''.
Changed line(s) 34 (click to see context) from:
** In ''The Long Divorce'', Fen adopts the pseudonym [[Literature/TheMysteryOfEdwinDrood Datchery]] to make a covert investigation.
to:
** In ''The Long Divorce'', Fen adopts the pseudonym [[Literature/TheMysteryOfEdwinDrood Datchery]] to make a covert investigation. The local police inspector privately complains that anyone familiar with Dickens will recognise the allusion and realise what he's doing.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* StereotypeFlip: In ''Buried for Pleasure'', the Conservative and Labour candidates are deliberately chosen against their parties' usual stereotypes -- the Conservative candidate is a labourer who's been to night classes, and the Labour candidate a wealthy industrialist.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* CrisisOfFaith: Played with in ''Holy Disorders'' -- the character who loses faith in his profession isn't a priest, but a psychoanalyst.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
* BurnTheWitch: In ''Holy Disorders'' the city of Tolnbridge has a history of witch-burning. [[LampshadeHanging Various characters take the trouble to point how unusual this was, when the normal punishment was hanging.]]
* ChekhovsGun: In ''Holy Disorders'', Fen's hobby of collecting insects turns out to be crucial at the climax.
* {{Homage}}: ''Holy Disorders'' has one to Creator/MontagueRhodesJames: a [[ApocalypticLog diary]] left by a corrupt bishop, who seduced a 17-year old member of his congregation and had her burned as a witch to cover up the affair, only for her ghost to take revenge on him.
* PhraseCatcher: One character in ''Holy Disorders'' is called Henry Fielding; everyone who meets him seems compelled to ask if he's the author of ''Literature/TomJones''.
Changed line(s) 33 (click to see context) from:
** There are also nods to real inhabitants of Oxford at the time; in ''The Moving Toyshop'' Fen mentions an essay by Creator/PhilipLarkin, and in ''Swan Song'', Fen points out Creator/CSLewis as he passes.
to:
** There are also nods to real inhabitants of Oxford at the time; in ''The Moving Toyshop'' Fen mentions an essay by Creator/PhilipLarkin, and in ''Swan Song'', Fen points out Creator/CSLewis as he passes.passes.
* TwistedEucharist: In ''Holy Disorders'' the protagonists attend a Black Mass in disguise, in the hope of picking up clues.
* TwistedEucharist: In ''Holy Disorders'' the protagonists attend a Black Mass in disguise, in the hope of picking up clues.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 32 (click to see context) from:
** In ''Holy Disorders'', Fen hears that Scotland Yard is to be called in, and wonders if it'll be in the person of [[Creator/MichaelInnes Inspector Appleby]].
to:
** In ''Holy Disorders'', Fen hears that Scotland Yard is to be called in, and wonders if it'll be in offended at the person idea of calling in [[Creator/MichaelInnes Inspector Appleby]].Appleby]] when he, Fen, is already on the spot. Though he acknowledges Appleby is "very good".
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* RubeGoldbergHatesYourGuts: The method in ''Swan Song'' to make it appear that the victim had hanged himself.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Deleted line(s) 20 (click to see context) :
* PutOnABus: Fen's wife Dolly appears only in the first book.
Added DiffLines:
* PutOnABus: Fen's wife Dolly appears only in the first book.
* RightInFrontOfMe: In ''Swan Song'', as everyone arrives at TheSummation, Elizabeth is asking "But I thought Charles Shorthouse lived with some awful woman called Beatrix Thorn?" -- only for Fen to reply "Here is Miss Thorn. [[StealthInsult In the flesh.]]"
* RightInFrontOfMe: In ''Swan Song'', as everyone arrives at TheSummation, Elizabeth is asking "But I thought Charles Shorthouse lived with some awful woman called Beatrix Thorn?" -- only for Fen to reply "Here is Miss Thorn. [[StealthInsult In the flesh.]]"
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* MusicToInvadePolandTo: [[invoked]]Discussed by the characters in ''Swan Song'', since it's set at the staging of a Wagner opera immediately after the Second World War.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* MyCarHatesMe: Fen's car, Lily Christine III, has a habit of breaking down at the most inconvenient moments for Fen (such as when he has to get somewhere as quickly as possible to prevent a murder).
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* DrivesLikeCrazy: Fen claims he is a careful driver who never takes unnecessary risks. This is very far from being the case.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 27 (click to see context) from:
** In ''Holy Disorders'', Fen hears that Scotland Yard is to be called in, and wonders if it'll be in the person of [[Creator/MichaelInnes Inspector Appleby]].
to:
** In ''Holy Disorders'', Fen hears that Scotland Yard is to be called in, and wonders if it'll be in the person of [[Creator/MichaelInnes Inspector Appleby]].Appleby]].
** There are also nods to real inhabitants of Oxford at the time; in ''The Moving Toyshop'' Fen mentions an essay by Creator/PhilipLarkin, and in ''Swan Song'', Fen points out Creator/CSLewis as he passes.
** There are also nods to real inhabitants of Oxford at the time; in ''The Moving Toyshop'' Fen mentions an essay by Creator/PhilipLarkin, and in ''Swan Song'', Fen points out Creator/CSLewis as he passes.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* GrailInTheGarbage: In ''Love Lies Bleeding'', a collection of priceless manuscripts ([[McGuffin for which people would commit murder]]) is found by a plumber fitting a new stove. Neither he nor the householder recognise their significance.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* ShakespeareInFiction: The McGuffin in ''Love Lies Bleeding'' is a manuscript of the lost Shakespeare play ''Love's Labours Won''.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 23 (click to see context) from:
** In ''Buried for Pleasure'', two rural characters admit they've been [[Literature/ColdComfortFarm mollocking]].
to:
** In ''Buried for Pleasure'', two rural characters admit they've been [[Literature/ColdComfortFarm mollocking]].mollocking]].
** In ''Swan Song'', a journalist asking Fen for an interview says she's also hoping to interview Literature/SirHenryMerrivale, [[Series/TheMrsBradleyMysteries Mrs Bradley]] and Literature/AlbertCampion.
** In ''Holy Disorders'', Fen hears that Scotland Yard is to be called in, and wonders if it'll be in the person of [[Creator/MichaelInnes Inspector Appleby]].
** In ''Swan Song'', a journalist asking Fen for an interview says she's also hoping to interview Literature/SirHenryMerrivale, [[Series/TheMrsBradleyMysteries Mrs Bradley]] and Literature/AlbertCampion.
** In ''Holy Disorders'', Fen hears that Scotland Yard is to be called in, and wonders if it'll be in the person of [[Creator/MichaelInnes Inspector Appleby]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* PutOnABus: Fen's wife Dolly appears only in the first book.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* CharacterFilibuster: In ''Buried for Pleasure'', Fen is standing as an independent candidate in a local by-election. By the time of his final speech, he's so disgusted with politics that his speech (transcribed at full length) is a denunciation of the whole notion of politics and a plea for the traditional British spirit of apathy.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 16 (click to see context) from:
** ''The Moving Toyshop'' and 'Frequent Hearses'' are both quotations from Alexander Pope.
to:
** ''The Moving Toyshop'' and 'Frequent ''Frequent Hearses'' are both quotations from Alexander Pope.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 14 (click to see context) from:
* LiteraryAllusionTitle: ''The Moving Toyshop'' and 'Frequent Hearses'' are both quotations from Alexander Pope.
to:
* LiteraryAllusionTitle: LiteraryAllusionTitle:
** ''The Gilded Fly'' is a reference to ''Theatre/KingLear''.
** ''The Moving Toyshop'' and 'Frequent Hearses'' are both quotations from Alexander Pope.
** ''The Gilded Fly'' is a reference to ''Theatre/KingLear''.
** ''The Moving Toyshop'' and 'Frequent Hearses'' are both quotations from Alexander Pope.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* DetectiveMole: In [[spoiler: ''Buried for Pleasure'', the murderer is the local police superintendent]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
Gervase Fen, professor of English Language and Literature at Oxford, is the protagonist of a series of comic detective novels, written by Edmund Crispin (a pseudonym of Bruce Montgomery).
----
!!These novels provide examples of:
* {{Barsetshire}}: The setting of ''Buried for Pleasure'': a cluster of rural villages.
* BreakingTheFourthWall: Fen knows he's in a novel, and doesn't hesitate to say so.
* TheCharmer: In ''The Moving Toyshop'' Hoskins can charm any woman by offering her chocolates and telling her not to be alarmed.
* DescriptionInTheMirror: Parodied in ''Glimpses of the Moon'':
-->Here he paused by the mirror, from which, not unexpectedly, his own face looked out at him. [[BreakingTheFourthWall In the fifteen years since his last appearance]], he seemed to have changed very little... At this rate, he felt, he might even live to see the day when novelists described their characters by some other device than that of manoeuvring them into examining themselves in mirrors.
* DoomItYourself: In ''Buried for Pleasure'', the landlord of the Fish Inn attempts to carry out renovation works himself, building to a disaster that everyone's been predicting through the book.
* DecidedByOneVote: The by-election in ''Buried for Pleasure'' has the winner come out one vote ahead of his two rivals, who are tied on the same total. [[spoiler:Then, when the winner is disqualified for breaking spending limits, the returning officer's casting vote resolves the tie]].
* GlowingGem: In the short story "The Mischief Done", the solution to the mystery relies on the "fact" that diamonds glow in the dark after lengthy exposure to bright light.
* LiteraryAllusionTitle: ''The Moving Toyshop'' and 'Frequent Hearses'' are both quotations from Alexander Pope.
* TheLittleShopThatWasntThereYesterday: The premise of ''The Moving Toyshop''.
* TheScrappy: [[invoked]]In ''The Moving Toyshop'', Fen and one of his sidekicks decide to pass the time by naming fictional characters they detest, whom the author intended as sympathetic. They come up with [[Theatre/MuchAdoAboutNothing Beatrice and Benedick]], [[Literature/LadyChatterleysLover Lady Chatterley and "that gamekeeper fellow"]], [[Literature/TheFaerieQueene Britomart]], "almost everyone in [[Creator/FyodorDostoevsky Dostoevsky]]", "those vulgar little man-hunting minxes in ''Literature/PrideAndPrejudice''", and [[Creator/WilliamWordsworth the Leech-Gatherer]]. At which point, they are interrupted by an outraged Creator/JaneAusten fanboy... who just happens to give them the next clue they need.
* ShoutOut:
** In ''The Long Divorce'', Fen adopts the pseudonym [[Literature/TheMysteryOfEdwinDrood Datchery]] to make a covert investigation.
** In ''Buried for Pleasure'', two rural characters admit they've been [[Literature/ColdComfortFarm mollocking]].
----
!!These novels provide examples of:
* {{Barsetshire}}: The setting of ''Buried for Pleasure'': a cluster of rural villages.
* BreakingTheFourthWall: Fen knows he's in a novel, and doesn't hesitate to say so.
* TheCharmer: In ''The Moving Toyshop'' Hoskins can charm any woman by offering her chocolates and telling her not to be alarmed.
* DescriptionInTheMirror: Parodied in ''Glimpses of the Moon'':
-->Here he paused by the mirror, from which, not unexpectedly, his own face looked out at him. [[BreakingTheFourthWall In the fifteen years since his last appearance]], he seemed to have changed very little... At this rate, he felt, he might even live to see the day when novelists described their characters by some other device than that of manoeuvring them into examining themselves in mirrors.
* DoomItYourself: In ''Buried for Pleasure'', the landlord of the Fish Inn attempts to carry out renovation works himself, building to a disaster that everyone's been predicting through the book.
* DecidedByOneVote: The by-election in ''Buried for Pleasure'' has the winner come out one vote ahead of his two rivals, who are tied on the same total. [[spoiler:Then, when the winner is disqualified for breaking spending limits, the returning officer's casting vote resolves the tie]].
* GlowingGem: In the short story "The Mischief Done", the solution to the mystery relies on the "fact" that diamonds glow in the dark after lengthy exposure to bright light.
* LiteraryAllusionTitle: ''The Moving Toyshop'' and 'Frequent Hearses'' are both quotations from Alexander Pope.
* TheLittleShopThatWasntThereYesterday: The premise of ''The Moving Toyshop''.
* TheScrappy: [[invoked]]In ''The Moving Toyshop'', Fen and one of his sidekicks decide to pass the time by naming fictional characters they detest, whom the author intended as sympathetic. They come up with [[Theatre/MuchAdoAboutNothing Beatrice and Benedick]], [[Literature/LadyChatterleysLover Lady Chatterley and "that gamekeeper fellow"]], [[Literature/TheFaerieQueene Britomart]], "almost everyone in [[Creator/FyodorDostoevsky Dostoevsky]]", "those vulgar little man-hunting minxes in ''Literature/PrideAndPrejudice''", and [[Creator/WilliamWordsworth the Leech-Gatherer]]. At which point, they are interrupted by an outraged Creator/JaneAusten fanboy... who just happens to give them the next clue they need.
* ShoutOut:
** In ''The Long Divorce'', Fen adopts the pseudonym [[Literature/TheMysteryOfEdwinDrood Datchery]] to make a covert investigation.
** In ''Buried for Pleasure'', two rural characters admit they've been [[Literature/ColdComfortFarm mollocking]].
