History Main / SummationGathering

* In the freeware game ''Disorient on the Murder Express'', the detective gathers everyone to the fireplace at the rear of the train [[spoiler:to explain how they ''all'' tried to murder the victim for their own reasons, contributing to his death. Then [[FridgeLogic they all shoot him.]]]]

** In ''Too Many Cooks'', it is held at the banquet table at the Kanewha Spa, following the final feast of Les Quinze Maîtres.

** In ''Immune To Murder'', it takes place at O. V. Bragan's fishing lodge in the Adirondacks, where he has gone to make trout Montbarry for a foreign ambassador at the special request of the [=US=] Secretary of State.
** In ''Too Many Detectives'', it takes place in a hotel room in Albany, where he has been summoned to submit to questioning in a state investigation of illegal wiretapping.
** In ''The Impolite Corpse'' (from the third radio series), it takes place at the murder scene because his client told him over the phone that Archie was in danger. Wolfe suspects (correctly) that this was a lie intended to get him over there, but had found the case so annoying that he was willing to just solve it right there and be done with it. [[spoiler:Incidentally, the fact that his client went to such lengths to make him leave his office is the pivotal clue that breaks the case.]]

* The Doctor arranges one in the ''Audio/BigFinishDoctorWho'' play ''[[Recap/BigFinishDoctorWho039BangBangABoom Bang-Bang-a-Boom]]'', in which he proceeds to reveal the secret motives of nearly every speaking character who isn't dead in the best tradition of Hercule Poirot, before finally revealing the actual murderer. [[spoiler: Except Nicky Newman, who doesn't have any secrets. The Doctor just thinks being scared by a baseless accusation might do the boy some good.]]

FridgeLogic kicks in when you realize that, if the detective already knows who the killer is, he should just have the guy arrested. And it's probably best to do that by ''surprise'', rather than by giving a long speech in which the list of suspects is gradually shortened and the killer might be tempted to run away before anyone can put him in handcuffs. Additionally any testimony and statements given by anyone present at the summoning might be inadmissible in court, as the those present have been led to believe speculation presented as fact, but the trope works well from a storytelling perspective, since it builds suspense and explains all the loose ends.

!!!'''In General:'''
* ''Series/LikelySuspects'' and the remake of ''Series/BurkesLaw'' had this regularly, of the type where the detective deals with the innocent people by ''accusing'' them, and then revealing the "accusation" to be a BaitAndSwitchComment.
!!!'''By Series:'''

* Parodied in one ''ComicStrip/TheFarSide'' comic, with the detective announcing to the gathered suspects that [[TheButlerDidIt the butler]] gored and trampled the murder victim to death. Just ignore the [[ElephantInTheRoom elephant in the trenchcoat]]..

All of the suspects gather together in a room, so that the detective can tell them who the murderer is. The detective goes down the list of suspects one by one, explaining why they are innocent - although some of them may be guilty of other, minor, crimes. Eventually he will get to the guilty party, and explain how and why the murder was committed.

[[folder: Audio Play ]]

* Parodied in ''Creator/{{Cheech and Chong}}'s'' comedy sketch "Pedro and Man at the Drive-In." Pedro is settling in to watch a Film/CharlieChan movie. From the car speaker, he hears the end of the movie:
--> '''Chan:''' Everybody in this room have motive for killing Mr. Taylor. But Mr. Taylor only have one killer. And the name of that killer is...\\
''(Static)''\\
'''Drive-in employee:''' Ladies and Gentlemen, snack bar will remain open another fifteen minutes. After that it's closed for the evening. Thank you.\\
''(Static, fanfare plays)'' [[note]]VanityPlate fans may recognize the fanfare as being one of the several used by [[Creator/TwentiethCenturyFox 20th Century Fox Television]] from the 1960's to the 1980's.[[/note]]\\
'''Announcer:''' And now, a preview of our coming attractions!

--> '''Doctor''': Well, now. I suppose you're all wondering why I called you all here.\\
'''Mel''': To unmask the murderer, surely.\\
'''Doctor''': Well ... yes. Yes, right then. Well, I've pressure-locked the doors and there are guards posted outside, so nobody can leave this drawing room.\\
'''Mel''': Ready room.

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

* ''Manga/TheKindaichiCaseFiles'' ends every story arc with one of these, although they rarely happen in a parlor, instead usually occurring in the same place where one of the victims was killed. The summation is usually accompanied by a dramatic explanation of exactly how the killer carried out his crimes. Kindaichi will explain everything -- motive, method, all the secrets behind the case -- without revealing the killer's identity, leaving that for the very end.
* ''Manga/DetectiveConan''. Played with a lot since Conan, as a child, has to use Kogorou as a sort of mask in order to reveal the truth, by knocking him out, slumping him over something for a generic "deep thought" pose, and using a voice-changer to talk like him. Not always the best idea since sometimes, these suspects aren't very willing to just stand and watch the man reveal everything.
** While it's clear he developed the habit out of a need for recognition and adulation, he does learn to try to lead the police - or Kogorou - instead and resort to summation by proxy when that simply isn't working... which just happens to be "almost always". (Although whenever there's a way he can do it as himself and get the credit he falls right back into this.)
* The ''Music/{{Tsukiuta}}'' anime's mystery parody episode, over the murder of Haru's glasses, had to include one of these - or two, as it turns out, since Koi bungles the first one by accusing the managers. The managers have been away from the cabin all day, and didn't even know there was a "case". And there's a second one, when all the characters go looking for Hajime, who has the answer... [[spoiler: it was the pet rabbit]].

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[[folder: Comic Books ]]

[[folder: Film ]]

[[folder: Literature ]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* The ''Series/DoctorWho'' episode "The Unicorn and the Wasp" has Agatha Christie herself solving the mystery, but it's PlayedForLaughs thanks to Donna, who hasn't quite caught on and keeps accusing the wrong person.
* A variant in the ''Series/VeronicaMars'' episode "An Echolls Family Christmas": She figured out who stole the game pot from the poker game, and suggests that they all show up for another game, and whoever is revealed to have stolen it will be kicked out and will have effectively bought ''her'' into the game.
* A subversion appears in ''Series/{{NCIS}}'', during the sting operation that identified [[spoiler: Agent Lee]] as TheMole. Having summoned every potential culprit together, the Director has their hands tested for evidence, and identifies the innocent [[spoiler: Abby]] as the guilty party, allowing the team to follow the ''actual'' suspect once the fake one is in custody and the Mole thinks the internal investigation is over.
* Occurred occasionally in ''Series/MurderSheWrote'', although Jessica generally preferred an EngineeredPublicConfession.
* Lampshaded in ''Series/TropicalHeat'', when the detective, Nick asks that the suspects be gathered in one room, and his friend Spider asks derisively if he's going to do "that whole Agatha Christie summation thing".
* The ''Series/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia'' episode 'Who pooped the bed' features one of these. [[spoiler: It turns out that the detective way overthought things.]]
* In an episode of ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'', George plots an elaborate setup to prove a mechanic stole his Twix bar. It's ruined when he leaves the room...
-->'''Saleswoman:''' Hey Willy, check it out! Free candy!
-->'''George:''' That's my candy lineup! Where are all my cards? They're all on the floor! ''And you!'' How many Twix does that make for you today? Like eight Twix?
-->'''Mechanic:''' No.
-->'''Man:''' Hey, this Clark bar is good!
-->'''George:''' It's a Twix! They're all Twix! It was a setup! A setup, I tell ya! And you've robbed it! You've all screwed me again! Now, gimme one! Gimme a Twix!
-->'''Mechanic:''' They're all gone.
-->'''George:''' [[SkywardScream TWIX!!!]]
* Standard way Shawn and Gus close a ''Series/{{Psych}}'' investigation.

* ''Series/LikelySuspects'' and the remake of ''Series/BurkesLaw'' had this regularly, of the type where the detective deals with the innocent people by ''accusing'' them, and then revealing the "accusation" to be a BaitAndSwitchComment.
* President Bush pulls this in one episode of ''Series/ThatsMyBush'' to figure out who has been trying to murder him. After going through everyone present, he eventually arrives at the conclusion that it was [[ShaggyDogStory no one]].
* ''Series/TheManFromUncle''. A variation in "The Mad Mad Tea Party Affair" - our heroes suspect a Thrush mole has planted a bomb in a conference room, but can't find it. So they gather all the suspects in that room and wait to see who panics first.
* ''Series/DeathInParadise'' has this as standard operating procedure. Lampshaded when Poole's SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute Goodman is startled at being prodded to do one in his predecessor's style, but decides to keep the tradition going in later episodes.
--> '''Goodman:''' Camille, would you do that thing where you gather everyone together? I [[NotSoAboveItAll rather liked that]] last time...
* In ''Series/KamenRiderDouble'' Akiko attempts one, but in addition to guessing the wrong person to be the MonsterOfTheWeek, she misses the fact that ''all'' of the season's [[BigBad Big Bads]] are also in the room.
* Liz spends one ''Series/ThirtyRock'' episode watching ''Murder on the Orient Express'' and having a post-breakup one-night stand. At the end of the episode, she calls the entire cast into Jack's office and accuses [[EverybodyDidIt them all]] of orchestrating the one-night stand. The scene is a direct parody of the similar scene in ''Murder on the Orient Express'', with Liz presenting a "simple explanation and a complex explanation" for the one-night stand, with the simple explanation being that it just happened and the complex explanation being a conspiracy among everyone in the room to make her feel better, and eventually deciding to believe in the simple explanation even though the complex explanation is obviously correct.

* ''Series/MarriedWithChildren'': Parodied, as with many other detective tropes, in the NoirEpisode "Al Bundy, Shoe Dick". After Al has been [[FrameUp framed for the murder]] of an old rich man, he gathers the man's family and ends up accusing all of them of being the real murderer. His reasoning is either non-existent or hilariously faulty (like accusing a man with two hook hands of holding the murder weapon, or a retarded man of being a criminal mastermind), until he does prove himself with a bit of deductive logic that the FemmeFatale did it.
* At the end of every episode of ''Series/{{Banacek}}'', Banacek would gather all of the suspects together at the scene of the crime to explain how the crime was committed and expose the guilty party.
* ''Series/LawAndOrderCriminalIntent'': In "Palimpsest", Nichols stages one of these; gathering all of the suspects into the attic (ItMakesSenseInContext) to expose the murderer. This is probably the only time in the series this trope is used, but as it involves a murder in an old, book-filled mansion it seems to fit.
* An InvokedTrope in ''Series/AlteredCarbon''. Takeshi Kovacs is coerced by the BigBad into framing someone else for the attempted murder of Laurens Bancroft, so he uses this trope to manipulate everyone. Kovacs surrounds Bancroft with a group of people who all have motive for harming him and stand to lose everything if they lose Bancroft's favor. When Kovacs accuses one of them, the others are relieved that the spotlight is off them and are greatly motivated not to question the evidence. They then try their best to convince Bancroft that Kovacs is right.

[[folder: Newspaper Comics]]

* Parodied in one ''ComicStrip/TheFarSide'' comic, with the detective announcing to the gathered suspects that [[TheButlerDidIt the butler]] gored and trampled the murder victim to death. Just ignore the [[ElephantInTheRoom elephant in the trenchcoat]]..

[[folder: Radio ]]

* ''Radio/BleakExpectations''' series five opener, featuring a country house soiree at which [[TenLittleMurderVictims guests keep dropping like flies]].
-->'''Sir Phillip Bin:''' I gathered the guests in the {{denouement}}arium...

[[folder: Theatre ]]

* Inspector Goole does this to everybody all the time in ''Theatre/AnInspectorCalls''. Pretty much the entire plot is one.

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[[folder: Video games ]]

[[folder: Visual Novels ]]

[[folder: Webcomics ]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

FridgeLogic kicks in when you realize that, if the detective already knows who the killer is, he should just have the guy arrested. And it's probably best to do that by ''surprise'', rather than by giving a long speech in which the list of suspects is gradually shortened and the killer might be tempted to run away before anyone can put him in handcuffs. Additionally any testimony and statements given by anyone present at the summoning would be inadmissible in court, as the those present have been led to believe speculation presented as fact, but the trope works well from a storytelling perspective, since it builds suspense.

* ''{{Jaccuse}}''

* Creator/AgathaChristie novels are known for this: Literature/HerculePoirot almost always does it; so does Literature/MissMarple. However, Literature/TommyAndTuppence Beresford rarely do and [[Literature/ParkerPyneInvestigates Parker Pyne]] almost never does; Tommy and Tuppence's investigations tend to be usually messier and more convoluted, and Parker Pyne, when his job of "making people happy" involves investigating a crime, prefers to be subtle about it. Christie's Summation Gatherings frequently also mark the beginning of a romance, and sometimes the end of one.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Monsignor_Aberdint_by_Brent_3401.jpg]]

* The ''Franchise/{{Tsukiuta}}'' anime's mystery parody episode, over the murder of Haru's glasses, had to include one of these - or two, as it turns out, since Koi bungles the first one by accusing the managers. The managers have been away from the cabin all day, and didn't even know there was a "case". And there's a second one, when all the characters go looking for Hajime, who has the answer... [[spoiler: it was the pet rabbit]].

* An InvokedTrope in ''Series/AlteredCarbon''. Takeshi Kovacs is coerced by the BigBad into framing someone else for the attempted murder of Laurens Bancroft, so he uses this trope to manipulate him. Kovacs surrounds Bancroft with a group of people who all have motive for harming him and stand to lose everything if they lose Bancroft's favor. When Kovacs accuses one of them, the others are relieved that the spotlight is off them and are greatly motivated not to question the evidence. They then try their best to convince Bancroft that Kovacs is right.

* ''Franchise/ProfessorLayton'' (chiefly the games, though there's a spectacular one in [[Anime/ProfessorLaytonAndTheEternalDiva the movie]]) have these, though they never ''really'' bring closure to the mystery, since the BigBad always runs off before they can be apprehended.

FridgeLogic kicks in when you realize that, if the detective already knows who the killer is, he should just have the guy arrested. And it's probably best to do that by ''surprise'', rather than by giving a long speech in which the list of suspects is gradually shortened and the killer might be tempted to run away before anyone can put him in handcuffs. Additionally any testimony and statements given by anyone present at the summoning would be inadmissible in court, as the those present have been lead to believe speculation presented as fact, but the trope works well from a storytelling perspective, since it builds suspense.

* [[InvokedTrope Invoked]] and [[DiscussedTrope discussed]] in Josh Lanyon's ''Somebody Killed His Editor'', in which the protagonist, mystery writer Christopher Holmes, reluctantly gathers everyone in a central location to talk through the murders and reveal his deductions as to the most likely suspect. Since the novel is set at a ''mystery writers' workshop'' (at which several dozen writers, publishers, and staff are trapped by weather in a remote California location), people quickly catch on ("He's going for the drawing room summary!") and there's much excited discussion and interruptions regarding his reasoning and methods. As Holmes is mostly playing for time anyway, as he wants to keep the killer and the potential victims in plain sight until help arrives, he doesn't mind too much. In the grand tradition of summation gatherings, he briefly pursues the RedHerring before focusing on the real culprit.

* ''Manga/DetectiveConan''. Played with a lot since Conan, as a child, has to use Richard as a sort of mask in order to reveal the truth, by knocking him out, slumping him over something for a generic "deep thought" pose, and using a voice-changer to talk like him. Not always the best idea since sometimes, these suspects aren't very willing to just stand and watch the man reveal everything.
** While it's clear he developed the habit out of a need for recognition and adulation, he does learn to try to lead the police - or Richard - instead and resort to summation by proxy when that simply isn't working... which just happens to be "almost always". (Although whenever there's a way he can do it as himself and get the credit he falls right back into this.)

* Parodied in ''Creator/{{Cheech and Chong}}'s'' comedy sketch "Pedro and Man at the Drive-In." Pedro is settling in to watch a CharlieChan movie. From the car speaker, he hears the end of the movie: