Sleuth

The action unfolds in a contemporary mid-20th-century setting typical of the 1970s, with gadgets and stagecraft reflecting the era. The characters engage in a dangerous, adult game of wit that mirrors the era's darker psychological thrillers.

Wyke Manor is a secluded country estate that doubles as a stage for elaborate games and mechanical automata. The manor's plush drawing rooms and hidden contraptions create a claustrophobic arena where rivalries escalate. The setting emphasizes wealth, control, and the performative nature of social status.

🎭 Mind Games

The plot is built on elaborate, theater-like games designed to test and humiliate the other man. Wyke and Milo continuously rewrite the rules, testing each other's wits and nerve. The line between truth and illusion blurs as both characters orchestrate deceptions that backfire in surprising ways.

🔪 Revenge

The story moves from social humiliation to lethal consequences, as a calculated game spirals into murder. Each man seeks to outplay the other, turning fragile pride into fatal action. The pursuit of revenge exposes the corrosive costs of pride and manipulation.

💼 Class & Identity

The conflict pits a self-made, suburban hairdresser against a cultured, affluent crime writer, revealing tensions around class and belonging. Milo’s outsider status destabilizes Wyke’s sense of control and status. Appearances mask deeper insecurities about legitimacy and worth.