Knives Out 3 Is A Lord of the Rings Murder Mystery

The world is changed. I feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air.... Muhrdeeer.

What we have here is an impossible crime, and at the center of this crime a symbol. A symbol of power and of greed. A symbol of corrupting evil. At the center of this whole kerfuffle is a ring– I mean a gem. To solve this mystery, I must employ the power of storytelling. This here case shares many disquieting similarities with one of my favourite novels, and I believe that story may be the key to uncovering the truth. If you indulge me, we can begin.

You might think I'm jesting, but I am dead serious. As dead as the Monsignor Jefferson Wicks. Or should I say, the dark lord Sauron.

A missing inheritance. A dead preacher. A family history as littered with skeletons as the Paths of the Dead. At first glance, it appears that the young priest is guilty of murdering his rival clergyman. His motivation clear as day: to take over the leadership of this congregation. I sense, however, that though he may be guilty, it is not the sin of murder that makes him so.

Here is our cast of characters.

Father Judd, aka Frodo Baggins

Our hero draws near.

Set before Father Judd is a seemingly impossible task. Like Master Baggins, he must find within himself the strength to overcome the intoxicating pull of power in order to do what is right. Though he seems the most likely suspect, I trust his strength of character to help uncover the truth at the center of his compatriot's unfortunate demise.

Louise, aka Samwise Gamgee

Like Samwise, at first glance Louise may appear to be superfluous to the story. However, she has an integral role to play. To paraphrase a particular favourite passage of mine: "Father Judd wouldn't have gotten very far without Louise."

Her kind heart and vulnerability will come into the fold before the end, and remind Father Judd of his life's purpose beyond this whole sordid affair.

Cy Draven, aka Saruman

Enter, the opposition.

Cy Draven is not only a coward, but an easily manipulated one at that. His grand delusions of power make him the perfect accomplice to our Monsignor, who himself was obsessed with taking control of his flock. Whether Mr. Draven plays the role of the patsy, the red herring, the accomplice or the culprit, I do not yet know.

Like the White Wizard, Cy is a keen observer. His ever-recording mobile phone serves as our modern-day Palantir. The prosperity that online fame promises is almost as beguiling as the Seeing Stones.

Martha Delacroix, aka Gollum

Now, Miss Delacroix is an interesting case. Just as the unfortunate soul Gollum was taken in by the power of the One Ring, so, too, has her life been defined by this missing jewel. Just like the creature, it was her revelation that revealed its ultimate location to the Monsignor and set this whole story into motion.

I sense her fate is inextricably intertwined with that of this case.

Dr. Nat, aka Pippin

A fool of a man, but an honest fool he was. But since his wife left him, a shadow has fallen upon the heart of the town doctor. I do not know what he may be capable of under these new circumstances. The young Took was a hobbit pure of heart, but his proximity to power was never great enough to truly challenge his resolve. Would it have been different had he had the chance to seize the power of the the Ring for himself?

Perhaps the doctor's story will tell us.

Vera Draven, aka Boromir

Miss Draven, much like the Gondorian, has greatly overestimated the role she has to play in this story. Her peculiar relations with her patriarch illuminate yet another similarity between the two. Her motivations, as of now, remain a mystery to me. It does not escape my notice, however, that the mere mention of the missing inheritance sets ablaze a devilish light in her eye...

Samson Delacroix, aka Merry

You may think it strange not to assign Samson the role of Samwise, especially given his affable nature and seemingly harmless disposition. But no. Mr. Delacroix is not a help to our hero, and his mischievous streak plays into that of the Brandybuck quite cleanly. Though he may seek to do what is best, his loyalty and stout heart are easily played upon by those with nefarious intent.

Lee Ross and Simone Vivane, aka Legolas and Gimli

I will be completely honest with you, these comparisons may have more to do with countenance than character. Ross, the gruff and impulsive wordsmith, and Miss Vivane a graceful, if slightly inconsequential, addition to our list of suspects.

Please forgive my severe lack of brevity, but there is one more individual we must unmask before we can begin to unravel the murder of the Monsignor. Enter...

Benoit Blanc, aka Gandalf the Grey

The figure with the wisdom to unravel (with some help) the most complex of riddles and solve that which many would deem impossible. A soul whom no mistruthing can deceive. Well, it can only be yours truly. My humility bids me also mention that I, like the Grey Wizard, have a penchant for withholding relevant information perhaps longer than is necessary.

But it is fun to hold the keys to the moment of revelation. Speaking of, now with all our players and all the pieces set before us, we can begin. We shall use the cypher of this fantasy story to uncover the truth.

Martha Delacroix revealed to the Monsignor the location of his missing inheritance. A gem, worth millions, was encased in the family crypt on the grounds of his very church. The similarities between her confession and Gollum's upon his capture by the orcs are inescapable. Though, she was compelled by her beliefs rather than a device of torture.

Martha knew that if the money fell into Wicks' greedy, misguided hands, only evil would follow. She knew the corrupting power that it possessed. But who could she trust? Who would believe that a deed so terrible as murder was necessary in order to preserve the force for good in the community? Only a fool of a Took.

Dr. Nat was the perfect accomplice. He brought medical expertise, an opportunity to meddle with the scene of the crime, and an accomplice in the form of his dear friend Merry-- I mean Samson, of course.

With the help of the two hobbits, the dark lord was vanquished. But the power of the gem had not wrought it's most dasterdly blow yet. As soon as he laid eyes on the gem, Dr. Nat fell within it's grasp. Remember how quickly Pippin lost himself in the eye of the Palantir? So too was the good doctor helpless to fight against the pull of such indescribable wealth. He fell so deep under its spell that he was willing to betray his dear friend to get it. Poor Samson, who only wanted to help, has become another victim of the gem.

Sweet beans!

Who would have thought that hobbits would have such an important part to play in the fortunes of this congregation?

Though this world is not full of orcs and dwarves, it is equally as susceptible to the evil deeds spurred on by ill-advised quests for power. I do believe that Mr. Tolkien would concur.

Case closed.

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