France and a New Mystery

[NeverSlender]

I count ten guests. Wife, Jean and her husband, old couple, three suspects, college friend and the writer.

EDIT: Dinner time, back in a bit.

[IslaKariese]

The wife was excluded. She's not a guest, after all.

[Sicon112]

I count ten guests. Wife, Jean and her husband, old couple, three suspects, college friend and the writer.

Unfortunately, there are only nine guests. The wife does not count, as his exact phrasing was "ten people, as well as the wife". This would imply that the wife is not among that number. (Though English is weird enough that you could get away with counting the wife) If the wife was counted, it is very poor phrasing. No response yet, but I'll keep looking for a bit.

[Victin]

Couldn't it be more than one person? A group conspirating angainst him?

[Sicon112]

Couldn't it be more than one person? A group conspirating angainst him?

Already brought that up. I'm attempting to construct various possible groups and the parts each member plays as we speak.

[NeverSlender]

Jean could have been asocial because he was worried about what he'd done. Maybe he helped the wife?

[Flitterbie]

Is it bad that I'm looking at this information and, instead of thinking "What makes the most sense?", I'm instead thinking "What makes the best story?"

[Sicon112]

Is it bad that I'm looking at this information and, instead of thinking "What makes the most sense?", I'm instead thinking "What makes the best story?"

Not at all. That's what TV Tropes does to you.

[NeverSlender]

I'm starting to think it was the wife, possibly with help from another guest. Or the benefactor did it and is manipulating Poirot. Depends on who the last guest turns out to be.

[Flitterbie]

Is it bad that I'm looking at this information and, instead of thinking "What makes the most sense?", I'm instead thinking "What makes the best story?"

Not at all. That's what TV Tropes does to you.

But I mean, more than that. If the fourth wall is collapsing, wouldn't it make sense that the logic of stories would be leaking into reality, in addition to characters? So instead of using logic, maybe we should be using the Rule of Drama/Cool/Whatever.

[Sicon112]

Is it bad that I'm looking at this information and, instead of thinking "What makes the most sense?", I'm instead thinking "What makes the best story?"

Not at all. That's what TV Tropes does to you.

But I mean, more than that. If the fourth wall is collapsing, wouldn't it make sense that the logic of stories would be leaking into reality, in addition to characters? So instead of using logic, maybe we should be using the Rule of Drama/Cool/Whatever.

Waaaaaaaay ahead of you.

[Flitterbie]

But I mean, more than that. If the fourth wall is collapsing, wouldn't it make sense that the logic of stories would be leaking into reality, in addition to characters? So instead of using logic, maybe we should be using the Rule of Drama/Cool/Whatever.

Waaaaaaaay ahead of you.

Oh thank God I'm not the only one going crazy.

[Flitterbie]

So, if we're actually looking at solving this, maybe we should have a What We Know for this thread?

[Sicon112]

So, if we're actually looking at solving this, maybe we should have a What We Know for this thread?

Have now edited the OP to include all info up to this point. Now, however, I'm afraid I must take my leave. Good luck guys!

[Flitterbie]

Just going to point out here, shallow wounds may not mean someone who's weak. While deep would rule out anyone who's weak, shallow wounds could mean a strong person who's hiding their strength. Just a thought.

[IslaKariese]

Just going to point out here, shallow wounds may not mean someone who's weak. While deep would rule out anyone who's weak, shallow wounds could mean a strong person who's hiding their strength. Just a thought.

I just love how that eliminates absolutely nobody. *noises of frustration*

[Sicon112]

Just going to point out here, shallow wounds may not mean someone who's weak. While deep would rule out anyone who's weak, shallow wounds could mean a strong person who's hiding their strength. Just a thought.

I just love how that eliminates absolutely nobody. *noises of frustration*

Nothing we have is absolute except the time of death. I just said it increases the likelihood of a weaker person doing it. If you think about things in terms of "Yes" and "No" you won't get very far. It's all percentages and probability.

[IslaKariese]

Nothing we have is absolute except the time of death. I just said it increases the likelihood of a weaker person doing it. If you think about things in terms of "Yes" and "No" you won't get very far. It's all percentages and probability.

Well, I'm no detective. I just barely managed to spot the guest total discrepancy, if it means anything in the long run. I don't wanna just sit back while others work out the crime, even if I'm pants at it.

[NeverSlender]

Just going to point out here, shallow wounds may not mean someone who's weak. While deep would rule out anyone who's weak, shallow wounds could mean a strong person who's hiding their strength. Just a thought.

I just love how that eliminates absolutely nobody. *noises of frustration*

Despite the fact this made me laugh, be caaaalm.

[Flitterbie]

Nothing we have is absolute except the time of death. I just said it increases the likelihood of a weaker person doing it. If you think about things in terms of "Yes" and "No" you won't get very far. It's all percentages and probability.

Well, I'm no detective. I just barely managed to spot the guest total discrepancy, if it means anything in the long run. I don't wanna just sit back while others work out the crime, even if I'm pants at it.

We don't need a detective. We already have one of those. We need people who are Genre Savvy. We need people who can think, "If this were a story, as opposed to real life, whom would I suspect? Who would make the best murderer?"

[Sicon112]

Well, I'm no detective. I just barely managed to spot the guest total discrepancy, if it means anything in the long run. I don't wanna just sit back while others work out the crime, even if I'm pants at it.

Well, you've got plenty of time to figure it out. I'm not going to be able to really work on it at all for another solid 24 hours or so. I'm just studying at my computer and responding if I see a comment pop up, which is why I'm still here.

[IslaKariese]

We don't need a detective. We already have one of those. We need people who are Genre Savvy. We need people who can think, "If this were a story, as opposed to real life, whom would I suspect? Who would make the best murderer?"

Possibly the antisocial guy and his wife. But they were accounted for during the party.

[Flitterbie]

We don't need a detective. We already have one of those. We need people who are Genre Savvy. We need people who can think, "If this were a story, as opposed to real life, whom would I suspect? Who would make the best murderer?"

Possibly the antisocial guy and his wife. But they were accounted for during the party.

I thought about them too. But they almost seem too obvious.

[YankeeWhite]

My thoughts on the shallow stab wounds: control. That sort of wound doesn't happen by chance alone, someone has to deliberately control the amount of force used, six times to be exact. Calm nerves and a steady hand IMO.
And I posted on Hercules blog about Jacqueline, her white dress and the possibility of blood transfer, which puts her low on my suspect list. Conversely Valérie du Bois' red dress places her high on my list because blood transfer could easily be missed. (Yeah I went all CSI with that one )

Also good job everyone with combing through this latest development. I don't think one single person could have come up with so much on their own. Lets all keep it up!

[NeverSlender]

I disagree about the control thing. When has there ever been a controlled stabbing? He was stabbed six times. This was a violent crime comitted by someone with something against our victim. I'm sticking with the killer being a weaker person.