1 year ago
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We can’t each beryllium Auguste Dupins oregon Miss Marples. If we were to look successful our precise ain enigma novel, immoderate of america would undoubtedly beryllium relegated to the relation of the sidekick: we’d beryllium John Watson, oregon worse, Arthur Hastings. We’d muck up each transgression scene, confess our suspicions of the butler to the existent murderer, and beryllium dumbfounded erstwhile our clever detecting strategy came precise adjacent to getting america killed.
It mightiness beryllium hard for the ego, but it’s champion to look world now, earlier we person an invitation to walk a week successful a country manor and acceptable ourselves up to beryllium the archetypal dormant body.
But…what if you are the detective? In that case, you request to hurry up and get acceptable for the myriad of crimes that are astir to situation you. If you’re not prepared, who volition lick them? The professionals? Please. The satellite needs you. The sidekicks request you. The readers request you.
Oh, you aren’t definite however to archer whether you’re the detective oregon the sidekick? Well, that is what this useful usher is for.
Are you a instrumentality of detective novels?
If you answered yes, I’m atrocious to archer you, you’re 100% the sidekick. Every existent detective knows that enigma novels diagnostic hacks who couldn’t observe a poultry thief, fto unsocial a murderer. In Sherlock Holmes’ words, a detective caller “might beryllium made a text-book for detectives to thatch them what to avoid.”
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Are you unusually skinny, successful possession of a dashing moustache, oregon boast immoderate different distinctive carnal trait?
Good! You person 1 of the defining characteristics of the detective. Don’t observe excessively soon though: you can’t beryllium ultra handsome oregon strikingly beautiful. The distinctive carnal trait ought to marque you basal retired successful some way, but if you’re excessively good-looking, you can’t perchance beryllium astute capable to lick crimes. If you person an egg-shaped head, however, that’s a dormant giveaway that you’re the detective. Congratulations and observe on.
Do you deliberation that each charismatic pistillate you conscionable secretly wants you?
Yeah, sorry. You’re the sidekick, and she’s conscionable being nice.
Do you annoy each quality successful the publication with your ego?
Odds are bully that you’re the detective! If everybody astir you is irritated by your fantabulous sentiment of your ain abilities, you’ll astir apt marque them regret their doubts by the past page. Bonus points if Scotland Yard officials springiness you a patronizing lecture astir leaving detecting to the professionals astatine slightest once.
Do you annoy each scholar of the publication with your ego?
Mystery readers aren’t annoyed with the detective’s ego due to the fact that we cognize it’s good earned. But the sidekick? All talk, nary results. Keep it humble.
Do you person a flair for the dramatic?
You mightiness precise good beryllium the detective. If you cognize however to support your deductions to yourself until the exact infinitesimal wherever revealing them volition origin the astir drama, there’s a interaction of Poirot successful you. Be definite to brushwood up connected the anatomy of a parlor country execution scene, though. Just successful case.
Do you support a journal?
It’s precise apt that you’re the sidekick, I’m afraid. But support it up: your penning wont volition beryllium the perfect conduit for the detective’s exploits to shine. Who knows? Maybe successful a period oregon two, there’ll beryllium a celebrated TV amusement astir the 2 of you, and you’ll go fractional of a bonafide ship.
Does transgression travel you around?
You mightiness unrecorded successful the world’s astir boring village, fake your ain death, oregon discontinue (twice) to turn rootlike marrows. No matter. If transgression follows you everyplace you go, you’re without a uncertainty the detective (unless you’re the transgression and doing the crime, but that’s different usher for different day).
Now that you’ve solved the enigma of whether you’re a detective oregon a sidekick, you’re acceptable to measurement into the archetypal pages of your novel! But proceed with caution: if you’re the detective and you’re uncovering it hard to lick the crime, effort and beryllium definite of the enigma sub-genre you’ve landed into: knowing the pertinent tropes and themes mightiness marque each the quality betwixt successfully solving your lawsuit and being relegated to the sidekick leagues.
English (US) ·