In the Last Analysis Wrap Up

I’ve just noticed that this book may perhaps also be considered academic because the whole hunt itself is like that of one in a novel. More than once, Kate tells Jerry that he was literary in order to lift his spirits, since he was down about not making it much further in the case. For example, after going to Chicago and interviewing Daniel Messenger (the man who Janet left money to in her will), Kate tells Jerry he’s literary, referring to how he heroically decided to handle the situation and take it into his own hands to solve the case—it could be found in a novel. Also, at one point, on the verge of giving up on finding the true murderer, Kate remarks how silly it is that she is playing detective. She tells herself she cannot do play detective just because she admires the detective Peter Wimsey Gaudy Night (her favorite).

It also still bothers me how Kate comes to the conclusion that Michael Barrister is an imposter who killed the real Mike years before. There is no evidence to this fact. Perhaps it was the emphasis on Janet’s beauty that Kate began to look into others’ appearances and discovered that Mike’s was different. It’s difficult to tell. All we know is that he did indeed kill both the real Mike and Janet, although this is not explicitly stated to the reader. I find this odd, as well as the fact that in this book and the last (Gaudy Night) the reader never discovers what happens to the murderer/perpetrator in the end. What happened to Imposter Mike? Pro-mother Annie? I guess this is not the point in an academic mystery. It’s more about how the detective arrived at the right conclusion and found the culprit as opposed to what the consequences were. Still…it might be fun to know…

Both books also have “cliff hanger endings” as well. A new potential romance starts up between Reed and Kate as the reader sees at the end as Reed unexpectedly joins Kate at the airport on her vacation to Europe, saying “It was simply no good expecting myself to sit in New York imagining you following clues and dropping literary allusions” (of which seems to be the central point surrounding the academic piece of the novel). Similarly in Gaudy Night, it is unclear of what will happen between the two lovers, Peter and Harriet. It’s assumed they’ll marry…but then what?

I’ve also come to the conclusion that perhaps the “last analysis” deals with the fact that at her analysis, Janet was murdered, thus making it her last. Or perhaps it refers the fact that it was Kate’s last analysis of the case before she would probably have to give up her search and resume normal life.

Either way, ultimately, I liked the book and its fast paced style in comparison to Gaudy Night. Unfortunately from reading this book I was not able to determine the reason Cross might commit suicide in the future. There were no clues in the book or even mention of suicide…I guess I’ll never know.