Brewster Rockit by Tim Rickard for February 21, 2023

Who else would be the murderer at a greasy spoon with a red placard out front?

Whodunnits are dumb. There’s is always one crucial bit of information that is kept from the reader/watcher, but the detective finds it off-script, and reveals it seconds before he jacuzzies with the perpert… prepre.. peepert… crinimal.

I’ve been reading the “Expeditionary Force” series of books, and this is EXACTLY what the Skippy AI of that series would do in this situation. :-)

Since I’ve started watching Death In Paradise, I practically never figure it till the chief reveals the culprit. Their plots are way too convoluted. But, I watch religiously.

You can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs, any cook will tell you that!

Same thing with Dateline. A few clues about who the murderer might be, then wham, out of left field, here’s the real killer.

remember it’s @ before # except after $

A proper mystery is a work of art. The author HAS to give you enough clues to solve it yourself, and yet cloak them sufficiently that you don’t.

The proper response to a finely crafted mystery should be “OH! I should have seen that coming.”

If that was Ralph Cramden she would have said, "You…..are a……..BLABBERMOUTH! OOOUUUUUUUT! OOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUT!

Rats. And me thought the butler did it.

New mystery story, “Who Killed the Smart A** TV” ??? Don’t say it!!

… unless the TV is wrong.

Then she watches the show and it turns out to be the maid. She says, “See, you’re not so smart!”.

Oh, the TVs are much smarter than that. Want to find out who dunnit? 15 minute commercial break, or paywall access only.

This is why I watch Columbo.

Oh, that TV isn’t so smart — it was the butler.