The phrase references a specific narrative construction typically present in crime fiction. This construction usually includes a meticulously deliberate and executed crime, typically conceived via information gained from books or different media depicting felony strategies. The inclusion of a reputation, equivalent to “Lauren Elliott,” suggests a particular writer or fictional character linked to this trope.
The importance of this plot machine lies in its means to discover themes of mind versus morality, the affect of media on conduct, and the potential for peculiar people to commit extraordinary acts. Its historic context could be traced again to early detective fiction, the place the cleverness of the perpetrator typically matched or exceeded that of the investigator. This method offers a framework to think about motivations, strategies, and penalties inside a constructed, typically literary, felony act.