Why Did the "Dipshit" Have to be an Accountant?

I recently took an interest in mystery books, which I guess makes sense since my day job is forensic accounting.  I like to think I'm pretty good at figuring out "whodunnit" before the grand reveal in murder/detective books, shows, or movies, but I've been humbled thoroughly by Agatha Christie.  

I bought my first Agatha Christie book about a year ago and have been caught off guard on nearly every story.  Chapter by chapter, I find myself toggling back and forth between "this MUST be the killer" and "this is who she wants me to THINK is the killer", then in the end I curse to myself when I got it wrong.

For Christmas, my wife bought me "The Hunting Party" by Lucy Foley. Some of the reviews called the book Agatha Christie-esque, and as I finished the book I have to agree based on the similar plot twists and revelations in character back stories.  HOWEVER, the following excerpt from the book struck a chord with me:

"I don't have to explain myself to anyone - especially not a little dipshit like you.  What do you do for a living?"

"I'm -- ah -- ah -- an accountant"

Why Did the Dipshit Have to be an Accountant??

I suppose I should be happy that we've at least evolved from being depicted as introverted "bean counters" to being cast in social settings.  But still, it stings.

Why why WHYYY did this character have to be an accountant?  As I started to dislike this minor character, I'm thinking "used car salesman" or "ambulance chaser", but not accountant.

Sure, this character was insignificant in the grand scheme of the whole book, but accountants are still cast as timid or boring outcasts even when they're one of the main characters in a movie:

Central Intelligence - "Calvin Joyner was voted in high school the guy most likely to succeed. 20 years later he's an accountant."

Stranger than Fiction - "Everybody knows that your life is a story. But what if a story was your life? Harold Crick (Will Ferrell) is your average I.R.S. Agent: monotonous, boring, and repetitive."

Hitch - "Pivoting around the eternal game of love, the suave matchmaker and New York City's finest date-doctor, Alex "Hitch" Hitchens, can guarantee that any man can get the girl of his dreams if he overcomes his fears and follows his infallible advice. However, when the timid accountant, Albert Brennaman, enlists his help to catch the attention of the rich and beautiful heiress, Allegra Cole, Hitch will unexpectedly discover his perfect match: the inquisitive gossip columnist, Sara Melas."

 

How Will Accountants Cast Accountants? 

FloQast Studios will be releasing their "PBC" show next week (check out their trailer here).  FloQast says that they create content "by accountants, for accountants".  I'm looking forward to see if all the REAL accounting character cliches are represented.

 

Do you Like Mysteries Too?

Send me your book recommendations! Tag me on Twitter @RuBookCreative or send an email to info@RuBookCreative.com

Books not your thing?  Reading used to put me straight to sleep, so I'd stick to tv shows.  Here are some of my favorite mystery/detective shows if you're interested:

  • Murder She Wrote
  • Psych
  • White Collar
  • Monk
  • American Greed