Death of popular multiversal murder mystery author sparks fans to investigate

HURKOS III — Theories ranging from jealous colleagues to alternate-universe schemes have surged online as fans apply lessons from the “Impossible Investigator” novels after author Senkil Brot’s unexpected death.

Readers across the Federation are mourning Brot, who began the 13-book “Impossible Investigator” series in 2391. The novels, which follow detectives in the fictional Interdimensional Criminal Police Homicide Division, became bestsellers on multiple Federation worlds and inspired several holo-novels and even a musical.

Shriv Ch’kollehr, Brot’s agent, announced last week that the author was found dead at her home in Naissance, Hurkos III. He added that publication of the long-awaited Book XIV will be delayed by several months. The local police department has opened an investigation into the cause of death.

“We follow standard procedure when a person is found dead,” said Police Lieutenant Toimi Tiainen, whose department is leading the inquiry. “Information will be made public only with operational security and the privacy of the deceased and her family in mind.”

The lack of detail has frustrated some fans. While the official investigation continues, speculation has spread rapidly through “Impossible Investigator” reader communities. Some have even attempted to emulate Detective Bachelor, who launches his own probe after being dismissed from ICP in Book IX, Blood Dilithium.

“Book XIII, Tkon Vengeance, hints that the next story is set in a universe where the Federation and the Romulan Empire are swapped. So everyone is trying to find signs of disruptor fire,” said one self-described fan investigator, who requested anonymity for fear of police action—or retaliation from the killer. “But they’re wrong. I read the coroner’s report, and Brot was shot with an antique gun. Like in Book VII.”

In Book VII, Song of the Phaser Revolver, the victim is killed by a time-traveling cowboy. The fan—identified only as a pathology student at the University of Hurkos—refused to explain how they obtained investigatory material. Their explanation for time travel also contradicts prevailing views held by Starfleet Science and the Vulcan Science Academy.

“The most popular theory is that she was killed by Lexin, a lesser author,” said another fan, also speaking on condition of anonymity. “He was jealous of Brot’s popularity and he hasn’t been home since the murder.”

Lexin Ri is best known for slow-paced, contemplative writing, including the T’Hain Award-winning novel Circuit Nova. He declined to comment on the accusations. A fellow author said Ri has faced sustained harassment from Brot’s fans.

“Of course he’s gone incommunicado. All these amateur sleuths attack him and refuse to hear his side,” said Alisa Nystjärna, author of several popular historical war novels. “They blame Ri because of his past criticism of her inclusion in the Hurkos III Novelist Society. He only ever said her style suited a holo-novel more than a traditional book. Ri is an artist, while Brot was very much an entertainer.”

Nystjärna said the two authors had grown closer in recent months and claimed Ri and Brot were secretly collaborating on a new novel.

“I heard about it from my agent, who is also Brot’s agent,” she said. “He let it slip a few weeks ago when he came by for coffee. Now we’ll never know what they could have created together.”

Police, however, are not impressed by fan-led inquiries.

“Please stop interfering,” Lt. Tiainen said. “There’s no need for anyone else to acquire evidence or interrogate possible suspects. We’ve got this, I promise. You’ll be the first to know.”

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