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Warning - plot spoilers!
Warning - by its nature, this blog post contains plot spoilers! It's impossible for me to reveal how these five novelists created their fictional murders without giving away essential elements of the plot. If you're OK with that, then read on...
An incredible (and edible!) murder weapon
As part of my 'Five' series, in today's post I'll examine five unusual fictional murder methods. Crime writers often endeavour to come up with ever more creative ways to murder their characters, despite the fact that more orthodox methods such as guns and knives tend to be more convincing. Most people have heard of 'death by icicle' in both books and movies, and I'll share an example later.
One of the most famous murder methods employed by fictional writers is the one used by Roald Dahl in his short story 'Lamb to the Slaughter'. The story tells of a wife who, after learning that her husband plans to leave her, decides to kill him. She bludgeons him with a frozen leg of lamb, then cooks the meat and serves it to the police officers who investigate her husband's death. Ingenious, huh? What a great way to dispose of a murder weapon! And yet another twist on the theme of death by ice.
'Lamb to the Slaughter' is a wonderful short story, but novels are more my thing. So let's examine five examples in which the authors have given their characters ingenious methods for carrying out their murderous intentions. We'll start with P.M. Carlson's 'Murder in the Dog Days'.
One of the most famous murder methods employed by fictional writers is the one used by Roald Dahl in his short story 'Lamb to the Slaughter'. The story tells of a wife who, after learning that her husband plans to leave her, decides to kill him. She bludgeons him with a frozen leg of lamb, then cooks the meat and serves it to the police officers who investigate her husband's death. Ingenious, huh? What a great way to dispose of a murder weapon! And yet another twist on the theme of death by ice.
'Lamb to the Slaughter' is a wonderful short story, but novels are more my thing. So let's examine five examples in which the authors have given their characters ingenious methods for carrying out their murderous intentions. We'll start with P.M. Carlson's 'Murder in the Dog Days'.
1 - 'Murder in the Dog Days' - P.M. Carlson
'Murder in the Dog Days' by P. M. Carlson (1990) is a great example of what's known as 'the locked room mystery'. In a story of this genre, a crime, usually murder, is committed in circumstances that appear inexplicable. As the name suggests, a locked room is involved, one in which the murderer apparently could neither have entered nor left. Here's a brief plot synopsis of Carlson's novel.
On a sweltering summer day, (the temperature is highly significant) reporter Olivia Kerr and her husband Jerry invite Olivia's colleague Dale Colby to the beach. At the last minute, Dale decides to remain behind, and his dead body is discovered later on in his locked office. Already an ill man, Dale dies as a result of heatstroke when the temperature of his study reaches an intolerable level. His killer contrives the murder by manipulating the heat in the office via a thermostat, raising it during the day and then readjusting it before the body is discovered. As the office door is bolted on the inside, the crime scene appears to be a perfect locked room murder.
On a sweltering summer day, (the temperature is highly significant) reporter Olivia Kerr and her husband Jerry invite Olivia's colleague Dale Colby to the beach. At the last minute, Dale decides to remain behind, and his dead body is discovered later on in his locked office. Already an ill man, Dale dies as a result of heatstroke when the temperature of his study reaches an intolerable level. His killer contrives the murder by manipulating the heat in the office via a thermostat, raising it during the day and then readjusting it before the body is discovered. As the office door is bolted on the inside, the crime scene appears to be a perfect locked room murder.
2 - 'Busman's Honeymoon' - Dorothy Sayers
'Busman's Honeymoon' (1937) is one of Dorothy Sayers's novels involving Lord Peter Wimsey. Wimsey is on honeymoon with his new wife, Harriet, at Talboys, an old farmhouse that Wimsey has bought for her. On the morning after their arrival, they discover the former owner, Noakes, dead in the cellar with head injuries. The house was locked and bolted when the newly-weds arrived, and medical evidence seems to rule out an accident, so it appears he was attacked in the house and died later, having somehow locked up after his attacker. Another locked room - or, for the pedantic, locked house - murder!
By all acounts, Noakes was a thoroughly dislikeable man, and as the police investigation continues, a number of people emerge as suspects. The killer turns out to be Crutchley, a local garage mechanic who also worked as Noakes's gardener. He planned to marry Noakes's niece and get his hands on the money she would inherit in her uncle's will. The ingenious method Crutchley used involved setting a booby trap with a weighted plant pot on a chain, triggered by Noakes opening the radio cabinet after locking up for the night.
By all acounts, Noakes was a thoroughly dislikeable man, and as the police investigation continues, a number of people emerge as suspects. The killer turns out to be Crutchley, a local garage mechanic who also worked as Noakes's gardener. He planned to marry Noakes's niece and get his hands on the money she would inherit in her uncle's will. The ingenious method Crutchley used involved setting a booby trap with a weighted plant pot on a chain, triggered by Noakes opening the radio cabinet after locking up for the night.
3 - 'The Religious Body' - Catherine Aird
An interesting concept - convents aren't normally places one associates with violent murder. In 'The Religious Body', published in 1966, Inspector C.D Sloan has the task of solving the death of Sister Anne, who has been murdered, stashed in a broom closet, and then thrown down a flight of stairs into the cellar. A most unholy happening! But how was Sister Anne killed? There is no apparent murder weapon to explain the blunt force trauma wounds inflicted before her tumble down the cellar steps.
The answer is intriguing and, as the saying goes, hidden in plain sight. Catherine Aird's fictional murderer kills Sister Anne by delivering the fatal blows with one of the newel posts of a staircase. This unusual weapon is rendered more deadly by the heavy wooden ball atop its shaft. After the murder, the post is returned to its original position, to remain right under Inspector Sloan's nose as he investigates the death.
The answer is intriguing and, as the saying goes, hidden in plain sight. Catherine Aird's fictional murderer kills Sister Anne by delivering the fatal blows with one of the newel posts of a staircase. This unusual weapon is rendered more deadly by the heavy wooden ball atop its shaft. After the murder, the post is returned to its original position, to remain right under Inspector Sloan's nose as he investigates the death.
4 - 'A Big Boy Did It and Ran Away' - Christopher Brookmyre
Christopher Brookmyre introduces not one but two ingenious murder methods in his novel 'A Big Boy Did It and Ran Away' (2001). As a student, the novel's character Simon Darcourt swaps dreams with his friend Ray Ash about the two of them becoming future rock stars. Fifteen years later, older and soured by life, they're struggling with the disappointments that have come their way. Whilst Ray seeks refuge from his parental responsibilities in online games, Simon chooses a much darker coping mechanism. For him, relief comes through serial killing, mass slaughter and professional assassination.
Simon's first murder in the novel is with a mercury-laden icicle, which melts away before the body is discovered. This fictional murder device, sometimes transmuted into an ice bullet, has been used many times, starting with Anna Katharine Green's novel 'Initials Only' (1911), in which a young woman is killed by an icicle shot from a pistol.
Simon's second murder is that of a drug dealer. Darcourt mixes a lethal amount of heroin into a takeaway curry and knocks on the man's door, claiming the food is a pre-paid order from that address. Too greedy to resist, the dealer dies, makes it appear as though his death was from the drugs he supplied. A great example of an unhealthy appetite!
Simon's first murder in the novel is with a mercury-laden icicle, which melts away before the body is discovered. This fictional murder device, sometimes transmuted into an ice bullet, has been used many times, starting with Anna Katharine Green's novel 'Initials Only' (1911), in which a young woman is killed by an icicle shot from a pistol.
Simon's second murder is that of a drug dealer. Darcourt mixes a lethal amount of heroin into a takeaway curry and knocks on the man's door, claiming the food is a pre-paid order from that address. Too greedy to resist, the dealer dies, makes it appear as though his death was from the drugs he supplied. A great example of an unhealthy appetite!
5 - 'Matricide at St Martha's' - Ruth Dudley Edwards
Perhaps the most contrived murder we'll examine today occurs in Ruth Dudley Edwards's 1995 novel 'Matricide at St Martha's'. St. Martha’s College, Cambridge, has been operating on a shoestring for decades, before being left a huge sum of money in a former student's will. The result? Large-scale infighting amongst the various college factions. Before long, one of these, the Virgins, led by Dame Maud Theodosia Buckbarrow, is taking the lead, its members believing the money should be spent on scholarships. Then Dame Maud is murdered...
So how is this dastardly deed accomplished? Well, our victim climbs a ladder in the college library, the ladder being one of those that slide across the front of the bookcases via grooves in the wall. Normally, there are brakes at the end to stop the motion; however, in this case, the murderer has removed them. Following Dame Maud's own vigorous push to the ladder, she hurtles to her death as it gathers speed, eventually catapulting its hapless occupant from the library window.
So how is this dastardly deed accomplished? Well, our victim climbs a ladder in the college library, the ladder being one of those that slide across the front of the bookcases via grooves in the wall. Normally, there are brakes at the end to stop the motion; however, in this case, the murderer has removed them. Following Dame Maud's own vigorous push to the ladder, she hurtles to her death as it gathers speed, eventually catapulting its hapless occupant from the library window.
Give me some more examples!
I hope you have enjoyed this blog post! I'd be delighted to hear from you. Can you add any more examples to this catalogue of dastardly deaths? Have you read any novels where the murder method has struck you as unusually clever? Or maybe one that has made you throw the book aside and shout 'No way, Jose! That would never happen!' Leave a comment and let me know!
https://www.scribd.com/document/628344196/Valerie-Runyan-Houghton-Therapist-Attorney-Divorce
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hillaryhoughton
It is all smoke and mirrors. Ms. Houghton and Ms. Applegate are just looking for children that are being sexually abused. Each has their own set of skills. Houghton is the lead on all cases, while Applegate is the hacker and electronic stalker.
What makes them terrifying is that they can get you from anywhere. They can send their people to any location. Their goons will do anything that is asked of them. You will be completely helpless.
If Ms. Houghton and Ms. Applegate are on your case, run for the hills!
I firmly believe that Hillary Applegate’s company, Digital HQ, is a shell company.
When would she even have the time to be a tech executive? Ms. Applegate electronically stalks me all day long. You should see one of her paid infomercial business profiles. It is filled with vacation, family and pajama party photos.
https://shoutoutarizona.com/meet-hillary-applegate-founder-ceo-of-digital-hq/
Applegate is a hacker masquerading as a tech executive.
My kids are being sex trafficked by this duo. When I tried to protect my children, they had me hacked, stalked and ASSUALTED.
https://dgtlhq.com/media-and-press
https://www.scribd.com/document/628344196/Valerie-Runyan-Houghton-Therapist-Attorney-Divorce
Ms. Applegate got her start at WomenSV as their social media manager. This agency would trick victims of domestic violence to leave their electronic devices behind so that they could hack them. They also would introduce them to nefarious lawyers and coordinate with them to harm protective parents. This is how they entered my case.
https://davisvanguard.org/2024/06/vanguard-reporting-results-in-denial-of-grant-funding-for-sketchy-silicon-valley-domestic-violence-nonprofit/
https://www.change.org/p/1-2-3-shutdown-nonprofit-womensv
Ms. Houghton and Ms. Applegate are also involved in real estate. Ms. Houghton stole over $10,000,000 from her business partner, Clyde Berg. She would give her daughter the company credit card to treat herself and her friends to fancy meals at Morton’s. Houghton also bought her daughter a new Porsche and paid for her daughter’s college tuition with the stolen funds.
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6981163-HoughtonIndictment-Docket/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEg1fTduQp0
When Mr. Berg tried to get his money back, he was suddenly arrested for tying up a pregnant woman, putting a dog collar on her, then raping her with a golf putter. After spending $3,000,000 on attorney fees and spending 8 days in jail, Berg was eventually found factually innocent.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2400973/Clyde-Berg-Wife-allegedly-tied-bed-raped-golf-putter-Silicon-Valley-millionaire-husband-returns-witness-stand-storming-court--use-smelling-salts-stay-calm.html
https://www.denverpost.com/2013/08/05/silicon-valley-real-estate-magnate-facing-charges-in-suspected-sexual-abuse-of-wife/
https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/silicon-valley-millionaire-declared-innocent-of-sex-crimes/1968979/
Now Ms. Applegate has her own real estate business. Let’s hope that she is not doing the same things.
https://www.hometownhosts.com/aboutus
If you are dealing with Houghton or Applegate, please be careful. These are extremely dangerous people.
Allegations of Sex Trafficking and Child Abuse: A primary accusation is that Valerie Houghton allegedly sex trafficked children during a divorce proceeding. The accuser states that Houghton and another attorney ignored pleas about a 13-year-old son being molested, and subsequently, Houghton allegedly represented the accuser's ex-wife, leading to the accuser being cut off from his children.[2] The accuser also claims Houghton sex trafficked a daughter shared with another mother, and that Houghton was involved in a similar case where a child reported sexual abuse, and the protective parent lost custody.[2] Social media posts attributed to Valerie Houghton are cited, where she allegedly made light of child molestation, stating, "It's not rape if they want it," in reference to a 13-year-old being sexually abused, and joking that "molesting [kids] is not reportable."[2] [3] Furthermore, it is claimed that Houghton runs a transgender clinic and believes "pedophilia is part of gender identity," using this to justify pedophilia.[3]
Professional Misconduct and Legal Issues: Valerie Houghton is identified as having a B.S. in Nursing, an M.A. in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling, and a J.D. in law, holding three licenses in applicable fields, and maintaining a private psychotherapy practice in San Jose, CA, and Austin, TX.[1] Despite her professional background, she is accused of misappropriating $10,000,000 from a man named Clyde Berg, depositing money into her personal accounts, and using funds for personal expenses like a Porsche for her daughter, vacations, and jewelry.[3] It is also alleged that before theft charges were filed against Houghton, she arranged for Berg to be falsely accused of raping a pregnant woman with a golf putter, leading to his arrest and significant legal expenses before he was found factually innocent.[3]
Retaliation and Abuse of Legal Process: The accuser claims to have experienced retaliation, including being hacked, stalked, assaulted, and poisoned, resulting in organ damage.[2] It is alleged that Valerie Houghton threatened the accuser about firing her or another attorney, and subsequently represented the ex-wife without disclosure.[2] The content also suggests that Houghton uses the District Attorney's office to retaliate against individuals who complain about her, citing an instance where the District Attorney allegedly filed charges against the accuser after he reported assaults and child abuse, while simultaneously dropping unrelated felony charges against Houghton.[3] The accuser states that Valerie Houghton "gains control over a case by identifying criminal activity and child abuse. Then she blackmails the offending party and threatens to have them jailed."[3]
Involvement with Other Parties: The content implicates other individuals and entities in the alleged misconduct, including Judge James Towery and Dr. Lyn J. Mangiameli. Judge Towery is accused of having a conflict of interest, refusing to recuse himself, and having a history of egregious misconduct, including putting children in danger and abusing his power.[2] Dr. Lyn J. Mangiameli is accused of entering a fraudulent report into court records, and petitions are mentioned to terminate the Judicial Council's contract with him.[2] The accuser also links Valerie Houghton's involvement in his divorce to her daughter, Hillary Applegate, who allegedly worked at WomenSV, a non-profit accused of hacking clients' devices and working with "nefarious attorneys to take away children from loving parents and placing the children with abusers."[3]
These allegations are presented as serious concerns by the source material, which encourages readers to contact various government officials and relevant parties to report misconduct.[2]
https://search.dca.ca.gov/details/4001/RN/289176/049097976cd0f5d598fbed97775d4a5c
https://search.dca.ca.gov/details/4009/PHN/27906/3c5813b8ffa4269eecc72f9fe1e38171
Ms. Applegate’s role is to hack you so that real time locations can be identified. She will also use your browsing history to assist her mother in poisoning her victims. If Hillary is on your case, don’t search for vitamins or order any groceries online. Any information to assist in poisoning you will be used.
These people are CRAZY. They don’t adhere to laws or social norms. You will not even contemplate at first what they are doing because it so abnormal to hack and poison people.
Now my all of my organs are damaged, testicles have atrophied, and the shape of my face has been altered. I have also lost sensation across my entire body and have trouble swallowing.
Valerie Houghton likens poisoning me to eating chips. You can’t just stop at one. This indicates that she derives pleasure from slowly destroying my body.
(picture of my facial injuries https://archive.ph/nf2ag)
Just see what Hillary Applegate and Valerie Houghton did to Daya Baran after he discovered that someone was molesting his toddler daughter.
https://freearianna.org/story
https://archive.is/0PsNL (Daya Baran’s archived website)
Mr. Baran is now a diabetic and the pigmentation in his face has been damaged.
https://thefamilycourtcircus.com/2025/06/28/colorado-judicial-jungle/
https://forum.legaljunkies.com/forum/attorneys-courts-litigation/civil-litigation/69836-austin-family-court-corruption/page15
https://thefamilycourtcircus.com/2025/08/29/killer-family-courts/
https://forum.legaljunkies.com/forum/attorneys-courts-litigation/attorneys-and-legal-ethics/683060-has-anyone-been-hacked-by-hillary-houghton-applegate
I didn't even hire her, but there is still no way to get her to stop. Ms. Houghton and her daughter are a tag team from hell. You won't find a more sadistic family.
My body has been completely decimated by the Houghton's. It's all because I don't want my kids to be raped. You would be hard pressed to come up with a more sadistic reason.
But this is what the Houghton's get off on. They enjoy inflicting sadistic abuse, especially when forced sexual encounters are involved.
It's not enough that the Houghton's force young children to be raped, assault parents, and create nothing by misery. This is all a 24/7 obsession.
You can see it in many of Ms. Houghton's social media posts.
There are many involving rape, murder, stalking, and child molestation. She throwing it in the faces of her clientele in a sick but playful manner.
The Houghton's love laughing about the sickest abuse that you can imagine. Then they minimize it by calling it "black humor" or "pranks"... anything but the sickness that it really is.
Hillary Applegate of Digital HQ: Navigating the Remote Workforce: Strategies for Growing a Geographically Dispersed Organization
https://medium.com/authority-magazine/hillary-applegate-of-digital-hq-navigating-the-remote-workforce-strategies-for-growing-a-dfcb89c0f273
Applegate is indeed navigating a geographically dispersed organization. She is out in Texas and has a private gang in Santa Clara County which she orders to terrorize unsuspecting families. No one would suspect that it is her reading their emails, harassing them through social media and banner ads, or otherwise destroying their life. Hillary Applegate has plausible deniability. She is out in Texas.
Also, if you catch her gang of thugs in your home, you won’t see her with them.
Ms. Applegate is like a ghost. If you scroll down, you can see Ms. Applegate’s now deleted Instagram post with a ghost. It says,” Marketing lingo that haunts us.”
https://archive.is/UVVeV
“What If My Teenager Asks Me If They Should Have Sex?
Well... Fewer issues bring greater panic into a parent's eyes than that of their child's (gulp) budding sexuality- and their developing relationships, which might include a sexual aspect... "He's IM'ing with 2 college girls and he is only in 11th grade!!!" I sometimes will ask parents (in families where there is an oldest child entering 6th grade) "So, how much have you all discussed about sex with your children?" This usually elicits a litany of descriptions (largely pejorative) about what they were told by their own parents... "Don't... wait until you're married... I'll get my shotgun...," et cetera.) Needless to say, this is a daunting task.
Here are a few of my little suggestions:
1. Start young, short time periods and use analogies and metaphors: "Yes, look at those cute baby monkeys... I'll bet their parents got married and decided to have them in that very tree!"
2. Talk in the car (AKA "A Captive Audience is the Best Audience") starting out with something like this: "Hey, have you guys ever heard of....?" "Have any of your friends started talking about dating/ girlfriends/ boyfriends/ kissing/ making out/ hooking up?" "What do they say?" "What do you think about that?" Try to keep your tone light and fluffy and casual, as if you were the weather person on the news... eternally light and breeeeezzyyyy.... fake it..... Yes, you can!
3. Repeat #1 and #2 frequently.... make yourself almost background noise.. cheery and casual.
4. Mention "I have heard that some of the people your age are thinking about ___. Have you heard anything like this from your classmates? ... Friends?... Sometime along, you will hear about some of these things and I don't want you to worry about talking with us about it- no names required- we are only interested in keeping all of you all safe and well informed."
5. "Can we talk about safe sex? Have you heard anyone ever talk about safe sex? How about oral sex? Some people your age think that you cannot endanger your health if they engage in oral sex... What is your opinion? Can you help me to understand how people your age describe this?/understand this? If you were giving advice to (choose a beloved younger child) what would you suggest to them? How should we explain these things to them?
Get the picture?
If you have fainted or had a seizure, please seek immediate medical assessment... At the same time, when you return, please reread, take a deep breath, look for your opportunity and SEIZE THAT MOMENT!
Good luck! Please remember that you are doing an amazing job, 'way outside your comfort zone. Remember the goal: no dead children. We are all in this, together.
Posted by Your Family Dynamics at Wednesday, September 24, 2008
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Labels: Don't Fear the Fuss, Entitlement Prevention, Expect the Best, Safety, Toddlers. Teens”
https://valerierhoughton.blogspot.com/2008/09/what-if-my-teenager-asks-me-if-they.html
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