Crossing genres with the idea, there is an entire large subset of the mystery field called "cozies" which scratches exactly this itch. Also Elizabeth Peters in the entire Peabody-Emerson saga.
The most violently anti-phatic author I can think of is Dorothy Dunnett. Far from creating a reassuringly stable world with no reader effort required, she can spend an entire book (or series) leading the reader toward conclusion A about a character, only to turn it over in the last few chapters. She'll make you realize that not only is the character or situation Z rather than A, but that the clues were in front of you all along.
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timeasmymeasure
Agreement, flash of recognition.
Date: 2007-05-08 12:38 pm (UTC)The most violently anti-phatic author I can think of is Dorothy Dunnett. Far from creating a reassuringly stable world with no reader effort required, she can spend an entire book (or series) leading the reader toward conclusion A about a character, only to turn it over in the last few chapters. She'll make you realize that not only is the character or situation Z rather than A, but that the clues were in front of you all along.