Grrrr

[madbaker]

I hate when characters in a book act stupid to further the plot. Especially when they're acting out of character, as it were. It's sloppy on the part of the author and it pulls me right out of the narrative.

I'm currently reading a book by a local author. It's the second in a series, and granted this may well have been her second book -- but that doesn't excuse it. Editors? Anyway, the main character is a PI investigating a murder. Turns out that there have been several murders. The locals have called out but only leave messages, and the reverse is true when people call in. The messages are never transmitted. This is known by the main character, and she never gets suspicious about it or acts on the knowledge. Even when she's calling out to someone else and gets through! Gratuitous stupidity to further the plot.

I have decided the term for this is deus ex stupida.

Comments

[helblonde.livejournal.com]

Hear, hear!