Most Meta Mystery Novel EVER

[osprey_archer]

I have just had the best idea for a mystery novel ever! And by “best,” clearly I mean “most ridiculously meta.”

Mystery novels with a detective who is a mystery novel writer have been done before. But you know what has not? A MYSTERY NOVEL SET AT A MYSTERY CONVENTION.

There is a mystery convention! Many mystery novelists are there! Indeed, our main characters will be novelists representing a smattering of the many mystery subgenres: cozy mystery, country house mystery, knitting mystery, gay Scottish serial killer romance mystery (this is apparently a genre), hard-boiled detective story, etc. etc…

Possibly a mystery solving cat will be involved. BETTER STILL: A mystery solving animal of another species. Mystery solving sugar glider!

Also at this convention is a vicious mystery novel critic, who is renowned for his bitter and stinging reviews! (Occasionally he likes something. He has a strange fondness for mysteries centered around baking.)

Naturally he ends up dead. Dead - at a convention full of people renowned for their ability to think up creative and undetectable ways to die! Many of whose books he recently panned! Who could be the culprit?

I am not sure who the killer is, but clearly the sugar glider should be the one who will solve the mystery.

Sadly this idea requires more knowledge of the mystery genre than I am ever likely to acquire, so it is FREE TO A GOOD HOME.

Comments

[goldjadeocean.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure I've heard of that book. As separate from the similar Bimbos of the Death Sun and Murder at the ABA.

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

There have been several of those: http://mysteryreadersinc.blogspot.com/2009/10/mysteries-set-at-conventions.html

[entwashian.livejournal.com]

Just to pile on... this is also a Season 1 episode of Murder, She Wrote: Footnote to Murder (http://murdershewrote.wikia.com/wiki/Footnote_to_Murder).

[rymenhild.livejournal.com]

I can't send you a link on this smartphone, but I point you towards Carolyn Hart's The Christie Caper.