Recap / Criminal Case: Grimsborough - Case 25: The Ghost of Grimsborough

Don't worry, it's just a painting... right?

Jones and the player are tasked with collecting the body of Wilhelm Moss, a painter who dropped dead as he was finishing a painting of The Mad Pilgrim.

Tropes:

• Brick Joke: In the end, Chief King really gives Ramirez some vacation time as he suggested at the start of the case.
• Call-Back: Desmond Galloway and his antique shop appear again.
• Continuity Nod: In Desmond's shop, a "LOST" poster features a dog that strongly resembles the one adopted by Grace in Case 6.
• Dead Artists Are Better: The reason why Patrick killed Wilhelm: since Patrick was secretly in bankruptcy, he commissioned a painting of The Mad Pilgrim from Wilhelm, then murdered him as soon as he finished in a manner that made it appear he was actually killed by the portrait itself. This way, Patrick could sell the supposedly cursed painting that killed its artist for millions and recover his fortune.
  • Monty Washington, an author who has written books about the legend of The Mad Pilgrim, also ends up benefiting from Wilhelm's death since it has boosted the sales of his books. Of course, this puts him really high in Jones' list of suspects until he's proven to be innocent.
• Feudal Overlord: According to the legend, The Mad Pilgrim was this in life, ruling over 17th Century Grimsborough with an iron fist.
• Ghost Story: The legend of The Mad Pilgrim.
  "The Pilgrim was a very cruel man who ruled over Grimsborough during the 17th Century. He sent hundreds of people to the gallows for the most trivial reasons.
  Until one night, the good people of Grimsborough had enough. The Pilgrim's maid poisoned his mead, and let the peasants in. They cut his body into pieces and buried them to the four corners of the town.
  They say that because of this, his soul remained trapped on Earth, forever angry... Anyone who's tried to paint his portrait has died in the most unusual circumstances."
• Graceful Loser: Patrick actually takes being arrested for Wilhelm's murder pretty well, in a screwed up sort of way.
  Patrick: Life? Such a shame, I was really looking forward to selling that painting...
  Patrick: I wonder, may I be allowed to decorate my cell with it, do you think?
  Judge Hall: You will be lucky to have a cell to yourself, Mr. Rufio! I cannot believe you are taking a sentence so light-heartedly. A man died!
  Patrick:' And a masterpiece was created, yes. All in all, a pretty fair trade if you ask me.
• Insufferable Genius: Desmond Galloway really starts showing shades of this, believing himself to be more cultured and educated that most people.
  Jones: As always, Desmond doesn't bother to hide his feelings. Sometimes I wonder if there's anyone in this town he doesn't look down on?
• The Load: Ramirez. He keeps insisting you to stop looking for the killer since it's clearly a very angry ghost, links any clues you find to the supernatural, and even starts doing his own "research" to help you solve the murder... by reading books about spirits and curses.
• Locked Room Mystery: The victim was found dead in a room locked from the inside and with no other entries apart from an also locked glass window... then you discover a small hole on the glass from where the killer threw a neurotoxin ampoule that killed the victim without leaving any traces on his body.
• Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane: Desmond seems to think this of the curse of The Mad Pilgrim, claiming it to be a child's story but not daring to touch the letter supposedly sent by the ghost "just in case."
• Occult Detective: Ramirez suggests you and Jones to team up with him to create this.
  Ramirez: While this city sleeps, it's heart is troubled by strange phenomenons... The nightmares of the past are still felt by the citizens of today.
  The police is powerless against the revenants and mysteries in our midst... but Jones, <Name> and Ramirez, occult investigators, are up to the task.
  Jones: Okay. Ramirez, I'm going to talk to the chief and... very strongly recommend you take some time off.
• Old, Dark House: Patrick Rufio lives in one. Said state is because he's old and in bankruptcy, which means he can't properly take care of it anymore.
• Our Ghosts Are Different: This one apparently kills whoever paints his portrait and is even capable of writing warning letters.
  Ramirez: A message from the Mad Pilgrim's ghost himself! Look, it's all slimey! It proves it was written by a ghost, it left it's essence all over it!
  Jones: Ramirez, I thought I told you to wait outside! And be serious, ghosts don't write!
• Riches to Rags: Patrick isn't actually as wealthy as he presents himself, having lost his fortune many years ago. The only thing he has left is his mansion, and even then it looks like an Old, Dark House.
• Running Gag: Ramirez freaking out over nothing each time you find a clue, which prompts Jones to shut him up.
• "Scooby-Doo" Hoax: The case revolves around the story of The Mad Pilgrim, who is said to kill anyone who finishes painting his portrait. Since the victim did this and his death is a Locked Room Mystery with no discernible wounds on his body, some characters, including Ramirez, really start to believe the legend to be real. Of course, it's revealed by the end that the killer took advantage of this story to murder Wilhelm and make it appear like his death was of supernatural origin.
• Shout-Out:
  • In the Workshop scene, there is a cutout of the subject of The Scream by Edvard Munch.
    • There is also a melting clock, similar to those in The Persistence of Time by Salvador Dalí.
  • In the Workshop Window, you can see a small drawing of The Little Mermaid.
  • In the Victorian Garden scene, you can spot heart-shaped cloud or moon in the sky on the right. Go on, see for yourself◊.
  • Everything about about The Mad Pilgrim makes him similar to Vigo the Carpathian. Even his portrait bares some resemblance, albeit with Pilgrim clothing. There's also some "slime" on the message he supposedly left.
• Spooky Painting: The Mad Pilgrim's portrait (shown above) is quite freaky, even without taking into account the urban legend surrounding it.
  Jones: I'm starting to understand why Ramirez was so freaked out... It feels like those eyes are staring straight into my soul!