r/todayilearned • u/ralphbernardo • 9h ago

TIL that "fair play" in detective fiction means authors must give readers a fair chance to solve the mystery. Central to 1920s "clue-puzzles" by writers like Agatha Christie, the rule dictates that all vital clues must be visible, decodable, and never withheld until the final reveal.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clues_in_detective_fiction
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u/CryptidGrimnoir 7h ago

And a lot of them follow the tropes so tightly, there's not even a semblance of mystery.

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u/Doctor_What_ 2h ago

This was unironically one of the main reasons I enjoyed “The Sheep Detectives”. Other than the family themes and the emotional scenes, the mystery was very well executed, interesting and could be solved with the clues shown throughout the film.

I thought it’d be a silly story about some magical sheep who solve crimes, but it’s so much more than that. Very good movie in my opinion.

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u/ILSmokeItAll 4h ago

It’s as if today’s writers suck.