I wasn't sure whether to post this here or under Character & Plot Realism... I figured I'd try the people doing mystery/detective novels first.
Is it plausible that multiple detectives would be hired for the same job? I'm planning on having a person hire multiple detectives to investigate possible adultery and/or a murder. I haven't decided whether they all know up front (e.g. she hires them and tells them that they are all competing for the same fee, and the first to solve it gets it. After which all kinds of antics ensue lol) or if she doesn't let them know they are in competition (and they each find out as they do their own investigation, and ultimately all kinds of antics ensue lol).
I've read a few detective novels, and seen a few movies, but never heard of this before. Yet it still seems plausible and could be interesting plot device.
Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.
Sean
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12,611 / 50,000
Oct 9, 2008 - 08 02
it would work. Remember the PI as portrayed in the detective genre is mostly a mythical figure to begin with. So yes I'd say it's plausible, and it adds an interesting conflict. Thumbs up!
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50,068 / 50,000
Oct 9, 2008 - 12 30
Oh that's a cool idea.
It can happen. I mean if the person has money and can find more then one I don't see why someone couldn't hire an army of PIs.
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27,684 / 50,000
Oct 9, 2008 - 15 28
It's entirely possible. I like the competition idea. That seems the most plausible as I can't see that most PI's would go very long without figuring out that there were others of their ilk on the case (talking to the same people, asking the same questions.) But most PI's wouldn't work for free-- they'd probably need to be paid with the winner getting a bonus.
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4,281 / 50,000
Oct 9, 2008 - 16 54
Well, maybe she called a few PIs to her place to see which one she should hire and she sort of fell for two of them, thus wanting them both around.
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60,525 / 50,000
Oct 10, 2008 - 05 29
That´s a great idea! Several detectives competing on the same could lead to hilarious situations.
0 / 50,000
Oct 10, 2008 - 07 24
Thanks everyone for your input!
I agree that it would be more plausible for them to all know up front. I like that idea better anyway, because it will be more fun to write and probably more interesting to read. I understand that they wouldn't work for free, so I might use that idea about each getting a small fee up front (for out of pocket costs and time), and have the one who solves the case get a large bonus.
Thanks again for everyone's ideas and opinions, and good luck!
Sean
12,344 / 50,000
Nov 11, 2008 - 21 11
that's kind of a little bit how mine is working:
I'm using two detectives, but they KNOW that they're competing. one's an actual detective, Scotland Yard, of course, who of course knows he's a terrible detective and is determined to win his honors no matter what it takes, and the other is a brilliant, logical man who isn't really a detective or really anything else, he's kind of a Sherlock Holmes but with less detective-ness.
I think your plot could work well! I can see lots of instances where funny little things could come up... :)
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