This weeks introduction to detective fiction brought our attention to critical writings of María Elvira Bermúdez. “The Puzzle of the Broken Watch” offers a critical view of the state, and more importantly one that criticized the deception of true intentions. This is exemplified through the character of Ismael Flores. The first mention of him is not by name, but rather is referred to as a friend that is part of the police force, who allowed the Garcías family to keep Rosa’s watch (page 8). He is then called by name when Lupe describes the confrontation at the market place, where Ismael responds to the scene, and then buys ice cream for Lupe’s daughter (page 9). He appears to be the only character not immediately singled out as a suspect for the murder. Juan, Lupe, and the boyfriend Tomás are all singled out as suspects, yet he is not. Some even has some suspicion of the child Rosita. His role as a police man leads to this early deception and facade of a good, kind, law enforcer. The status of police man grants him the ability to get away with his crime, but also grants him the aversion of suspicion from the reader’s eyes.

This aversion to suspicion showcases a critique of the same sort of corruption that is possible in not only police forces, but state power as well. This goes along with our discussions of the critique of sympathy to the state that is represented in English language detective fiction. Here Bermúdez, relies on this critique of the police to critique the genre norms of detective fiction and the presence of deception.