#whodunnit

[myjetpack]

My latest @guardian books cartoon.

[theotherendcomics]

Hey look, it’s our patreon

[wackom]

Part 1 of 2! Who could it be!?

[adannamdi]

Writing A Main Villain And Hidden Mastermind

VILLAINS

Villains are my absolute worst and absolute favorite characters to write. They can be morally gray, complex, or driven by the wrong motivations. Sometimes they’re fan favorites, and sometimes they’re nightmares. They might work alone, in pairs, or as part of a hidden network—but you won’t know unless the writer reveals it.

However, not all villains are the same. There are different kinds, each with their own level of intelligence, cunning, and approach to achieving their goals.

TYPES OF VILLAINS

The Brute Villain

These villains rely on strength, intimidation, and power rather than strategy. They crave domination but lack foresight, making them easy to manipulate or deceive. They flaunt their abilities, believing themselves invincible—until their downfall.

They can be outwitted with the right timing, distractions, or by exploiting their weaknesses—whether that’s greed, lust, or arrogance.

The Seductive Villain

These villains manipulate through desire—not necessarily through sex, but by preying on ambition, pride, or insecurity. They use charm and deception to turn people into pawns, slowly poisoning their minds with subtle manipulation.

Imagine a married man ensnared by a seductress—not only does she fulfill his desires, but she also brainwashes him into giving her what she needs, all while dismantling his life from the inside.

The Shadow Villain (The Puppet Master)

These villains never act directly. They stay hidden, watching, waiting, and pulling the strings while others execute their plans. Their hands are clean, but they orchestrate chaos from behind the scenes.

Think of a corrupt politician running a criminal empire while maintaining the image of a noble leader. The arrests, murders, and schemes are carried out by underlings, while the mastermind remains untouchable.

The Hidden Mastermind (The Most Dangerous One)

Unlike the shadow villain, the hidden mastermind is always two steps ahead. They have backup plans, loyal followers, and limitless resources. They manipulate events with precision and are nearly impossible to track.

Imagine a superhero chasing a faceless enemy—he knows the villain’s voice, maybe a vague silhouette, but nothing more. The villain could sit across from the hero, sipping tea, and still remain undetected.

Or picture this: a murder takes place in a park. The victim’s partner reports it—seemingly an innocent bystander. But as the protagonist digs deeper, they realize the partner is the true mastermind, orchestrating everything. Yet, without proof, only the hired killer is arrested while the real villain walks free.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Villains should challenge the protagonist, push the plot forward, and create tension. Their impact should be felt throughout the story, even if their presence isn’t immediately obvious.

Next week, I’ll be discussing why character occupations matter in mystery writing. Be sure to follow and like for more content!

[shewatchesandreadsthings]

The residence is an absolute delight of a show and Uzo Aduba plays the character Cordelia Cupp to perfection. 10s across the board.

[sparkles-and-trash]

Watching The Perfect Couple on Netflix and I’m realizing I’m never gonna tire of the filthy rich murder mystery setting

[gegibear]

Mystery of Mayvale Manor

Just uploaded an adventure module for @anim-ttrpgs's Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy!

In the small town of Foulson, high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, the historic Mayvale Manor is being restored and turned into a bed and breakfast! To promote the new attraction, a select group of people are invited to stay for a preview night, enjoying Foulson’s rich history and mountain landscape. However, an incoming blizzard, an unthinkable disaster, and the intrigue behind the manor’s story will turn these unsuspecting strangers into clue-seeking detectives. Will they be able to get to the bottom of the Mystery of Mayvale Manor?

It's a non-supernatural mystery, and is designed to be finished in one or two sessions. Check it out if you're interested!

[physalian]

A big part of the appeal of fanfic that uses large portions of the cast is the dramatic irony built into a story’s mystery by already knowing the personalities of the characters involved.

I still remember a wonderful mafia AU fanfic from ages ago that managed to cram the entire main cast of at least 20 people, probably more in cameo roles, and the writer new that the moment someone was name-dropped in the ongoing who-dun-it mystery, things suddenly made so much more sense.

And it worked? Really well? Random side character who just pops in for a scene? Yeah that’s this guy from season 2. The big mysterious mafia don? Yep, it’s this character. And yes, you should have known. The heroes of the story didn’t, but you have already seen all the cards.

These are the kind of fics that bank on what might as well be spoilers to appreciate the full scope of the narrative. A good murder mystery is a good murder mystery, yes, but now there’s the extra juicy layer of being intimately familiar with the entire suspect list before the curtain rises. To the point where you know immediately who dun it , you’re just here to see how they pulled it off.

[livingund3ad]

[for the last time || в последний раз]

Yan! Batfam x fem! sibling reader fic Moodboard and discussion thread.

|| > Feel free to theorize or yap about Yan! Batfam concepts with me down below!!

[safedistancefrombeingsmart]

We got some actual footage of Martin's performance at the Whodunnit [Unrehearsed] 3! 😃Yes, I know it's from a year ago, but who cares at this point? Martin can be seen twice, at 3 seconds in and at 02:32.

Also, at lot of other stars like in the video Gillian Anderson, Mark Gatiss, Damian Lewis, Daisy Ridley.

[speedygal]

list of new detective whodunnit icons.

Benoit Blanc, kind gay gentleman married to Phillip.

2. Cordelia Cupp, birder with photographic memory.

3. Charlie Cale.

4. Elsbeth Tascioni.

5. Morgan Gillory and Adam Karadec.

[honeypine-the-parrot]

every time somebody whips out one of these, i get jumpscared

WHO TURNED ME INTO A BOAT

WHO TURNED ME INTO A BOAT

[heliumjay]

240609

[fovarosiblog]

Először az első kb 35 mp-et nézd meg, amíg rá nem bök a nyomozó a tettesre. Aztán nézd meg még egyszer előlről az egész videót.

[booksandrainyyfilms]

Gosford Park (2001) director Robert Altman

[asgoodeasgold]

A goode swagger and an illicit kiss 🔥

This scene is rather swoony I must say (the broodiness, the stolen kiss, oof), as well as being a bit of a "whaaaaaat?" moment.

📷 Matthew Goode and Sienna Guillory as Patrick and Julia in A murder Is Announced (2005)