Stating Jessica Fletcher

[Johnny1A.2]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

That trope of turning a beloved character or show super dark is not uncommon now.

Regarding the murder rate in Cabot Cove (or other fictional detective settings), you could spin it either way. You can 'darken' the protagonist to explain it, or you could assume that some higher power has arranged for the protagonist to exist/be present in the area because something Bad is at work. It works equally well either way.

Actually, since Good is usually seen as working more subtly and indirectly, it might make sense that it would counter the Darkness in a place with some improbable instrument like Jessica Fletcher (or Father Brown, or Perry Mason, or whoever.)