Mystery in Sophie Hannah's the Closed Casket: a detective formula study

This study aims to understand the depiction of a formulaic detective in Sophie Hannah's Closed Casket novel, which focuses on the plot. This novel tells the story of a murder mystery investigated by a reliable detective named Hercule Poirot and his partner, Edward Catchpool. This study only focuses on two problem formulations: (1) the description of fictional formulas that focus on situations and characters (2) a formula detective explanation that focuses on detective action patterns. The researcher uses a qualitative descriptive method because the data is in words and sentences. This method describes the problem clearly and in detail, then the author presents the interpretation and draws conclusions. The theory used is the detective formula pioneered by John G. Cawelti, which used the leading approach. Researchers use books, journals, and scientific articles to support the analysis. The results of this study found three kinds of situations depicted in the novel Closed Casket, such as startling situations, pathetic situations, and perplexing situations. Then, the researcher finds the characters at the center of the story in the Closed Casket novel: victims, suspects, and detectives. Only five action patterns reflecting the detective formula were identified: the introduction of the detective, crime and clues, investigation, explanation of solutions, and dissolution. The purpose of using action patterns in formula detectives is so that Poirot detectives can solve the mystery of the murders and find the perpetrators. This study shows that detectives can handle their cases with the proper methods and tactics. Therefore, various instances dealt with by detectives can be solved, and they can find answers to riddles.