## Book Card | Key | Value | | :--- | :--- | | **Title (IT)** | Dieci Cose che Ho imparato da Jessica Fletcher | | **Title (EN)** | Ten Things I Learned from Jessica Fletcher | | **Author** | Alice Guerra | | **Series** | Alice Guerra (1) | | **Type** | novel | | **Genre** | mystery, cozy mystery, contemporary fiction, coming-of-age | | **Genre (Save the Cat)** | Whydunit, Dude with a Problem | --- ## Review Inspired by her hero Jessica Fletcher, Alice Guerra, a self-proclaimed influencer from Mestre, dives into an amateur investigation following the mysterious disappearance of her ninety-year-old neighbor, Luigino. Amidst neighborhood gossip, clumsy stakeouts, and a skeptical Sicilian commissioner, Alice uncovers as much about Luigino as she does about herself. The novel fits perfectly into the Cozy Mystery genre, blending mystery, humor, and community dynamics. Structurally, the work largely follows the Hero's Journey, benefiting from a clear protagonist and a cathartic resolution that unveils several truths. However, some stages like Alice's initial Refusal of the Call appear somewhat weak, and the central Ordeal feels perhaps too dispersed across various events, lacking a single dramatic peak midway through the narrative. The use of narrative tropes is generally effective, particularly in the combined handling of "Amateur Sleuth" and "Cozy Mystery," which defines the light and ironic tone. The "Fish out of Water" trope applied to the commissioner and the "Gossipy Hens" also work masterfully to create humor and local color. The influence of the Ideal Mentor (Jessica Fletcher), while central, occasionally risks becoming repetitive in its direct quotes. Recommended for readers who enjoy light, humorous mysteries with strong regional characterization (Veneto/Mestre) and eccentric characters. Those looking for personal growth stories told with (self)irony will also appreciate the work. --- ## Structural Analysis (Hero's Journey & Archetypes) > [!INFO]- (click to expand) > # Structural Analysis: Ten Things I Learned from Jessica Fletcher > ## Logline > A self-proclaimed Mestre influencer, obsessed with "Murder, She Wrote," plays detective to investigate her elderly neighbor's mysterious disappearance, clashing with a skeptical commissioner and uncovering unexpected secrets in her neighborhood and within herself. > ## Brief Summary > Luigino Boscolo, a ninety-year-old from Mestre, disappears. The case is assigned to Sicilian commissioner Salvatore Lo Cascio, who dislikes the Veneto region. Alice Guerra, a young local influencer and devoted admirer of Jessica Fletcher, decides to investigate concurrently. Amidst gossip gathered at the bar, clumsy stakeouts, and break-ins at the missing man's house, Alice uncovers hidden aspects of Luigino's life and the neighborhood, while confronting her own anxiety and insecurities. The official investigation intertwines with the amateur one, leading to an unexpected solution involving a misunderstanding and revealing profound changes in the characters, including Luigino's voluntary departure, mistakenly interpreted as a crime. > ## Archetypes and Characters > | **Archetype** | **Corresponding Character(s)** | **Brief Description** | > | ---------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | > | **Hero** | Alice Guerra | Protagonist, a 30-year-old influencer with generalized anxiety, a fan of Jessica Fletcher, investigating the disappearance. | > | **Mentor** | Jessica Fletcher (ideal), Aunt Rosanna (partial) | Jessica inspires Alice; the Aunt provides emotional support and (often unintentional) neighborhood information. | > | **Threshold Guardian** | Commissioner Lo Cascio (initially), General Skepticism | Lo Cascio hinders Alice's investigation; neighborhood mentality and fear hold back Alice and the elderly women. | > | **Herald** | Aunt Rosanna, Teresina Scalabrin | The Aunt brings the news of the disappearance to Alice; Teresina reports the found bicycle to the police. | > | **Shapeshifter** | Luigino Boscolo (as perceived by others), Piercoglione | Luigino seems changed to others; Alice's ex reappears with ambiguous motives. | > | **Shadow** | Alice's Anxiety, Lo Cascio's Prejudices, Suspicions | Anxiety is Alice's inner obstacle; Lo Cascio's prejudices blind him; suspicions create tension. | > | **Ally** | Aunt Rosanna, Teresina, Ornella, Luigino's Friends, Antonio Volpaton, Bepino | Provide information, support, or practical help to Alice or Lo Cascio (Volpaton). | > | **Trickster** | Luigino's friends at the bar (partial), Teresina/Ornella (partial) | The friends provide misleading information lightly; the elderly women unintentionally create chaos. | > ## The Hero's Journey Stages > | **Journey Stage** | **Event(s) in the Story** | > | ----------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | > | **1. The Ordinary World** | Alice's life in Mestre: local influencer, struggles with anxiety, daily routine, passion for "Murder, She Wrote." Commissioner Lo Cascio's life: frustrated, wanting to return to Sicily, dealing with a drug trafficking case. | > | **2. The Call to Adventure** | Aunt Rosanna calls Alice about Luigino's (presumed) death/disappearance. For Lo Cascio, Teresina's call about the abandoned bike (though initially dismissed). | > | **3. Refusal of the Call** | Alice is initially skeptical and busy, but concern for her aunt pushes her to act. Lo Cascio dismisses the report as senile fantasy. | > | **4. Meeting the Mentor** | Alice constantly draws inspiration from Jessica Fletcher's (imagined or remembered) teachings. Aunt Rosanna acts as an emotional catalyst and (unreliable) source of info. Lo Cascio lacks an explicit mentor but is supported by Volpaton. | > | **5. Crossing the First Threshold** | Alice actively decides to investigate, visiting her aunt and then Teresina and Ornella for information, overcoming initial skepticism. Lo Cascio crosses when media pressure forces him to investigate. | > | **6. Tests, Allies, and Enemies** | Alice gathers clues (and gossip) from the elderly women, Luigino's friends at the bar, faces Lo Cascio's skepticism (Enemy/Guardian), finds unexpected support (Bepino). Lo Cascio confronts his frustration and prejudices. | > | **7. Approach to the Inmost Cave** | Alice enters Luigino's house, searching for concrete clues about his life and disappearance (passport, empty fridge, books, Glovo receipt). Lo Cascio begins suspecting a drug trafficking link. | > | **8. The Ordeal** | For Alice: Direct confrontation with Lo Cascio in Luigino's house, risking charges; falling from the gate; discovering Piercoglione and Chiaretta's affair. For Lo Cascio: The failure of the drug trafficking hypothesis. | > | **9. The Reward** | Alice gets Luigino's house keys (temporarily), information about his change (reading, yoga), knowledge of the affair. Discovers the voluntary escape (passport, fridge). Clarity about her own strength. | > | **10. The Road Back** | Alice "fabricates" the suicide note to close the case and protect Luigino and her aunt. Lo Cascio prepares to use Alice to frame Luigino's friends. | > | **11. The Resurrection** | The Redentore dinner: Luigino returns alive from Bari (not Bali), revealing the misunderstanding. Final confrontation between Alice and Lo Cascio about the fake letter. Chain revelations among characters (Teresina/Ornella, Piercoglione/Chiaretta, Mariano). | > | **12. Return with the Elixir** | Alice accepts consequences but gained self-awareness and strength. Lo Cascio gets his transfer but may re-evaluate Veneto. Luigino returns changed. (Relative) peace in the neighborhood. The elixir is truth and self-acceptance. | ## Narrative Trope Analysis > [!NOTE]- (click to expand) > # Narrative Trope Analysis: Ten Things I Learned from Jessica Fletcher > ### Amateur Sleuth > - **Description and Context:** The central trope of the novel. Alice, despite having no investigative training, throws herself into investigating Luigino's disappearance, driven by her passion for Jessica Fletcher and concern for her aunt. She uses unorthodox methods based more on intuition, observation of details (often misinterpreted), and gathering gossip than on formal procedures. > ### Cozy Mystery > - **Description and Context:** Although there is a mystery (the disappearance) and initial suspicions of murder, the overall atmosphere is light, ironic, and focused on the Mestre community and character dynamics, rather than graphic violence or extreme tension. The final resolution reveals a misunderstanding rather than a heinous crime, typical of the cozy genre. > ### Fish out of Water > - **Description and Context:** Primarily applied to Commissioner Lo Cascio. A Sicilian forced to work in Veneto, he detests the climate, food, local customs, and constantly dreams of returning home. His discomfort is a source of humor and conflict. To a lesser extent, Alice also often feels out of place due to her anxiety. > ### Eccentric Mentor (Ideal) > - **Description and Context:** Jessica Fletcher serves as an ideal mentor for Alice, but her influence is filtered through Alice's obsessive and sometimes distorted perception. Jessica's "teachings" are quoted and (mis)applied by Alice, often guiding her impulsive actions. > ### Gossipy Hens > - **Description and Context:** Represented by the group of elderly friends of Aunt Rosanna (Teresina, Ornella, etc.). They are a primary (and unreliable) source of information, rumors, and outlandish theories about Luigino's disappearance, contributing to the chaos and humor. > ### Red Herring > - **Description and Context:** Several theories about the disappearance emerge and are discarded: murder over gambling debts, revenge by the ex-wife, inheritance, suicide, involvement in drug trafficking (Lo Cascio's theory). The very suicide note created by Alice becomes an intentional red herring. > ### Character Development Arc > - **Description and Context:** Applied to Alice, who through the investigation confronts her anxiety, gains self-confidence, and learns to act despite her fear. Lo Cascio also undergoes a slight change, perhaps beginning to see Veneto (and Alice) differently. Luigino himself had a development arc before his disappearance. > ### Meet Cute (Parodic) > - **Description and Context:** The encounters between Alice and Lo Cascio are far from romantic initially, characterized by antagonism and misunderstandings. The evolution towards a possible attraction ironically subverts the classic trope. > ### The Reveal > - **Description and Context:** Luigino's unexpected return during the Redentore dinner serves as the main reveal, solving the central mystery and triggering a chain of other personal revelations among the characters present (Teresina and Ornella's relationship, Piercoglione and Chiaretta's adultery, Mariano's onset of dementia).