Thoughts on Murder #1: The Knives Out money issue

Thoughts on Murder is Matt Ferraz's column on Grandma Bertha Interviews

This is a spoiler-free essay about the movie Knives Out (2019). Please keep the comments spoiler-free as well

Written and directed by Rian Johnson, the movie Knives Out was a pleasant surprise for mystery fans. The script for subverts the whodunit genre in many interesting ways and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. The plot deals with the murder of crime writer Harlan Thrombey (played by Christopher Plummer) and the investigation that ensues. With a great cast and clever twists, the movie is a treat and will keep you guessing till the end.

However, our goal here today isn't to discuss the mystery per se. Watching the movie for the first time, I was intrigued by Harlan Thrombey's career as a crime writer. Specifically, I was intrigued by the fact that he made such a big fortune by managing his books the way he does.

Harlan lives in a huge mansion and supports many of his younger relatives. His fortune is estimated at 60 million dollars at the time of his death. It's unlikely that a book author would make so much money. Unlikely, but not impossible. Remember the case of J.K. Rowling, who became richer than Queen Elizabeth through her Harry Potter books.

There lies the rub, though. The movie is very specific about Harlan's arguments with his son's Walt (Michael Shannon) who manages his publishing house. It's made clear that Harlan releases two books a year in the publisher that, apparently, only prints his own work. Meaning he's self-published and has been so since the beginning of his career, far before the advent of on-demand printing and ebooks. Speaking of ebooks, Harlan doesn't like them, neither does he allow any of his novels to be adapted into film or television.

By trying to make Harlan an old school author, Rian Johnson creates an uneven situation. It's established that the character is 86 years old at the time of his death and that the movie takes place in the year of its release, 2019.  One could argue Harlan started at a big publisher and then migrated to his own company, but that's pure speculation since it's never stated anywhere in the movie. If one considers the amount of resources it would take to make it that big as a self-published author around the time Harlan started releasing his work, it makes it hard to believe he would have done so without selling rights to film or TV or releasing other authors under his imprint. 

At a certain point, Harlan's son Walt complains about that attitude, saying that it's on movies and TV that the real money is. He also tries to convince his father to release his work on digital platforms. But Harlan remains adamant. He hates movies and is a brick and mortar author.

It's clear that Johnson wants to create an old fashioned crime author, who lives in a big mansion that resembles a Clue board and wants to do everything his own way. A mix of J.D. Salinger and Agatha Christie which, interesting as he may be as a character, doesn't make much sense for anyone who's familiar with the publishing business.

That doesn't spoil the movie, though. Not even Daniel Craig's attempt at a Southern American accent does. Knives Out remains an amazing movie that you should check out right now. Let me know your thoughts on the comments, and don't forget to check out Grandma Bertha's interviews! 

Yours,

Matt Ferraz

A chat with Pippa Parker after such a long time!

Pippa Parker was created by Liz Hedgecock

Greetings, my dear readers! It's been a while, I know. Last Christmas was crazy! I had to take a break after solving the murder of the girl with the missing toe (all about that here) and put my blog aside.

But now we are back, and better than ever! Apart from the usual interviews, we'll also have weekly posts from Matt talking about his craft. But now, let's have a chat with the lovely Pippa Parker, one of my favorite amateur detectives of all time. 

It's great having you here, Pippa. Tell us: what’s your major strength while investigating a murder?

Multitasking. I have to fit my investigations around the school run, nursery, making lunch for the kids, and doing my actual job. What is my actual job again?

Did you choose to become a detective? Or didn’t you have a choice? 

Becoming a detective was the last thing on my mind. As far as I was concerned I was just trying to fit into the weird village that I’d moved to against my will, and make some friends. It was only when the woman who runs our local playgroup got bashed on the back of the head that I had no choice but to get involved!

It happens more than you think. And what’s your daytime occupation? How does it relate to your investigations? 

By day I run events and manage bookings for Lady Higginbotham, owner of Higginbotham Hall, and Serendipity Jones, crafter extraordinaire. I also act as a brake on some of Lady H's wilder ideas. I combine this with being a director of operations, head cook and bottle washer, expert negotiator, activities coordinator and chauffeur. In other words, I’m a mum.

 

What do you like least about investigating a case? 

Generally I back away from a case until I get dragged into it. Then I complain about it to anyone who will listen (unless I’m undercover), and eventually I get so pulled into the case that I forget to do things like sleep.

And what do you know about investigating? How did you acquire that knowledge? 

I’ve probably learnt all that I know about investigating from reading Agatha Christie books. I’m a complete amateur, and I think that means that I pick up on the little things that intrigue me, which the police might miss. I’ve definitely got the nosiness and curiosity to make a good detective. Even if it gets me into trouble the rest of the time.

Who do you see yourself closest to: Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple or Sam Spade? 

I’d like to think that I am an intuitive genius and master of disguise like Sherlock Holmes. I'd certainly like to have a housekeeper to look after me, and a faithful companion to write all my adventures. However, I’m probably more like Miss Marple, poking my nose in where it often isn’t wanted, and relating things to my everyday life. I’m not sure I’d want to wear as much wool as she does though. Itchy.

How do you deal with the authorities while doing your investigation? 

If I can work with them, I do. Otherwise I pretend they’re not there and ignore them. I generally find that it’s easier to beg forgiveness than it is to ask for permission. Although again, sometimes that gets me into hot water. Can you see a pattern emerging here?

Tell me one thing about yourself you wouldn't want others to know.

I can actually cook quite well, but mostly I can't be bothered. 

Great having you here, Pippa. I'm a big fan of your work! And thank you to all my good readers. Remember: if you are a cozy mystery author, contact me using the form on the right side of this blog, and we'll arrange an interview. See you all later!

Books in the Pippa Parker Mysteries series:

Murder at the Playgroup

Murder in the Choir

A Fete Worse Than Death

Murder in the Meadow

The QWERTY Murders (just released!)

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Liz Hedgecock grew up in London, England, did an English degree, and then took forever to start writing. After several years working in the National Health Service, some short stories crept into the world. A few even won prizes. Then the stories started to grow longer... 

Now Liz travels between the nineteenth and twenty-first centuries, murdering people. To be fair, she does usually clean up after herself. 

Liz’s reimaginings of Sherlock Holmes, her Pippa Parker cozy mystery series, and the Caster & Fleet Victorian mystery series (with Paula Harmon) are available in ebook and paperback.

Liz lives in Cheshire with her husband and two sons, and when she’s not writing or child-wrangling you can usually find her reading, messing about on Twitter, or cooing over stuff in museums and art galleries. That's her story, anyway, and she's sticking to it. 

Website: http://lizhedgecock.wordpress.com

Amazon book page: http://Author.to/LizH

Facebook author page: www.facebook.com/lizhedgecockwrites

Twitter: www.twitter.com/lizhedgecock