osprey_archer | (Reply)

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I'm not sure I've read any modern mysteries where the murderer commits suicide (let alone gets nudged toward suicide by the detective). Maybe it's hard for a modern audience to believe that a murderer would actually go through with it? In the Wimsey book where this happens, IIRC Peter believes that the murderer will do for "on his honor as a gentleman" reasons, which just wouldn't work in a modern book set in modern times. Couldn't do it in a cozy because it's too dark; couldn't do it in a noir because trusting the murderer to keep his word and kill himself is too trusting for noir. Procedural... maybe?