Matthew Barrett

Each episode's mini-mystery plays out like something from Encyclopedia Brown, where the mastermind gives a great plausible explanation for a baffling case. BUT. It's only the first of many potential explanations, and no attempt is made to test it beyond what is admittedly a lucky guess! The one about the realtor and his trophy only makes sense if the detective knows he's in a story, and the explanation for the second payment in the therapist riddle doesn't actually make sense. The overarching plot with the vicar only makes slightly more sense, but it's still each coincidence conspiring to keep him from being a good person. It ends up making the opposite point as intended, as only a fictional character could be in such a contrived situation.