Hi all!

Currently writing a feature, thriller/murder mystery type. The protagonist, 23f is a photography major, nearing graduation, just needs a few intern credits to finish. Her parents are on vacation, so she arrives home to an empty house. Her mother has left a graduation cake in the fridge for her to find.

Basically, her mother has left three clues that will lead her daughter to this cake in the fridge and I’m looking for suggestions. Maybe it’s some kind of little game that they’ve been playing for years, but I want to show that this young woman is clever because later she will become involved in a murder.

Right now my clues suck.

Thanks! Steve

Quoted from SAC Hi all! Currently writing a feature, thriller/murder mystery type. The protagonist, 23f is a photography major, nearing graduation, just needs a few intern credits to finish. Her parents are on vacation, so she arrives home to an empty house. Her mother has left a graduation cake in the fridge for her to find. Basically, her mother has left three clues that will lead her daughter to this cake in the fridge and I’m looking for suggestions. Maybe it’s some kind of little game that they’ve been playing for years, but I want to show that this young woman is clever because later she will become involved in a murder. Right now my clues suck. Thanks! Steve

Part of your imagination problem may be the cake itself. She's home. Opening the fridge is surely a pretty common thing - hard to believe that she would find it routinely. Now - if you put something in the middle of that cake (e.g., she put a special locket or piece of jewelry inside ... maybe there could be more clever clues.

e.g., you can have your locket and it it too.

Yeah, I was thinking of the fridge being a place she’d probably go to immediately, just because that’s where a hungry person who’s been traveling all day would likely go to anyway. But I like the idea of something being in the cake that maybe she misses upon initial inspection. That’s something that can be a call back later - she misses a clue that puts her in danger or something.

Good idea. Thanks!

I agree with Dave.

Feels like she would probably look in the fridge soon enough, whether some clues led her there or not. Maybe the cake itself is actually a clue for a graduation present her mother bought and hid somewhere(the attic)?

Just spitballing.

Quoted from Zack I agree with Dave. Feels like she would probably look in the fridge soon enough, whether some clues led her there or not. Maybe the cake itself is actually a clue for a graduation present her mother bought and hid somewhere(the attic)? Just spitballing.

Thanks Zack. Yeah, I wrote what I wrote (my shitty clues) mainly as a placeholder. Basically, just need to show that a) she’s clever and b) she’s drawn to mystery.

Stevo! So, first establish mother and daughter, or father and daughter have been playing these types of sleuth games for years - it's a tradition?

The cake surely just has to be a decoy, starting point.

Because, yes, whenever we go home we always go to the fridge because parents always have something delicious in there, and yep, refreshment after a journey.

Maybe she opens the fridge and this elaborate looking graduation cake has a note affixed:
'Don't you dare...
'
So, of course she takes a knife from the drawer (maybe the knife has a ribbon or string attached - part of the puzzle later) she cuts a slice - there's a note inside:

She unfolds the note -
Knew you wouldn't be able to resist or something like that is written. Or just - Surprise or Gotcha!

She bites into the cake, 'discovers it's just cream on top of a fake dummy-cake.

And so it continues.

The game surely continues around the house, and surely - childhood home, teenage bedroom - the clue has to be in a doll or fav. stuffed toy - maybe a 'key' leads her to the garage - but keep turning it on its head - no, it's not the key to a brand new car (graduation present) - sucked in, etc.

If she's a photography major, maybe something directly related to that?
Maybe they have a small darkroom in the house in the basement - which could also add a creepy vibe while she's on the hunt.

Maybe use Tech devices?

It’s not entirely unusual for families to have two fridges nowadays, as in one in the basement storage/laundry room that’s only really used for overflow of bulk freezer items, party platters, etc. and of course… big ass cakes that won’t fit in the other (main) fridge. I would definitely keep the fridge angle, but a fridge no one really uses, then you could base your clues on that, just a suggestion…

She's majoring in photography, maybe have her parents leave hidden clues in old family photos, or her mom use photos in general for clues.  Or at least have one of the clues be in a photo of some kind. It can't hurt. Or maybe I'm missing the point.

Reg

Lib, R5E and Reg,

Thanks for your input! Certainly something I’ll try and take on board when I come back to that scene. Still have, like 70 pages to go on this so I’m not out of the woods yet, but all of your feedback is super valuable. Thanks!

Steve