Hmmm, spicy.
While discussing about the now illegal alcohol business of Concordia and how the Irish gang is presumably still running moonshine sales, Maddie and the player are informed that the police has found a truck used by the gang to deliver illegal alcohol. Once they arrive to the truck's location, both officers are greeted not only by the vehicle, but also the body of its driver Davy Byrne, who died after being doused in moonshine and set ablaze.
Tropes:
- Abandoned Warehouse: One of the crime scenes is one, which also serves as one of the many moonshine distilleries owned by the Irish gang.
- Alcohol Dousing: The victim was first doused with moonshine by his killer before being set ablaze with a cigarette.
- I Am Not My Father: When you interrogate Giulietta about her business in a Irish-controlled territory, she claims that just because her father is an Italian mobster doesn't mean she has to hate the Irish too.
- Attention Deficit... Ooh, Shiny!: As expected, Maddie gets so thrilled by the moonshine distillery that she almost interrupts the case to take a sample, although the player manages to get her back on track.
- Bad Boss: Maddie suggests Fiona might've killed the victim because she could, as who knows how she and her brother treat their underlings.
- Big "WHAT?!":
- Maddie has one when Chief Wright comes to inform you that the moonshine distillery is being dismantled by Fiona, prompting you to rush there and stop her.
- Later, Fiona has her own one during the Additional Investigation when Maddie informs her that the distillery is being closed for good, although she quickly composes herself since she apparently doesn't have anything to do with it.
- Call-Back: Seamus O'Neill and Giulietta Capecchi reappear as suspects after being absent since Case 9 and Case 12, respectively.
- Casual Danger Dialogue: Dick manages to hold a casual conversation with you while his arm is on fire, as he's testing a fire-retardant gel on himself.Dick: Hello, <Player's Name>! Won't be a moment! I'll just put myself out and I'll be right with you!Maddie: But Dick! You're on fire!
- Cold Turkeys Are Everywhere: As a result of one of the crime scenes being a moonshine distillery, Maddie has to be reminded that the ban of alcohol in Concordia has deeply affected her.
- Continuity Nod: Fiona sent a banshee to the victim as a warning since he was stealing money from her, which is how her brother also threatened Eleanor Halsted in Case 18.
- Cut-and-Paste Note: The killer sent one of these to the victim using the popular romance magazine Pistols and Petticoats, which Evie manages to deduce since she's a writer for said magazine.
- Daddy's Little Villain: Despite her I Am Not My Father claims, Giulietta later reveals that one of her reasons for coming to Sinner's End is that she wanted to spy on the Irish and their business so her father would see she was far more useful than his minions, who didn't seem useful at all.
- Disposable Sex Worker: The Scarlet Slayer, the Serial Killer you learn about during the Additional Investigation, exclusively targets prostitutes.
- Forced into Evil: Molly Byrne, the victim's wife, was forced into the gang by him while she just wished to have a honest job as a seamstress.
- Gangbangers: This case properly introduces Fiona "The Viper" Flanagan, the other half of the Flanagan siblings that control the district as the leaders of the Irish gang. In addition, Seamus is also revealed to have joined the gang after the Italians drove him out of business in Elysium Fields.
- Good Smoking, Evil Smoking: One of the killer's traits is that they smoke, since they used a cigarette to set the victim on fire.
- Good Scars, Evil Scars: According to Seamus, the victim as a good guy despite his scar.Seamus: So now I'm here. I was supposed to make a delivery for Davy Byrne, him as makes the moonshine for the gang. Nice fella, even with that fierce scar across his eye!
- Implausible Deniability: Fiona denies being involved in the selling of illegal alcohol despite her presence in the distillery and a crate full of moonshine with her name being found there, which is enough to spare her from jail for the time being.
- Kill the Creditor: Inverted. Davy was killed by Mauro Massetti. the creditor, because he refused to pay him.
- Love at First Sight: Giulietta and Seamus fall in love as soon as they lay eyes on each other.
- Man on Fire: How the victim was killed, courtesy of a douse of moonshine and a lit cigarette.
- Mob War: Maddie fears that the already ongoing tensions between the Irish and the Italian gangs, coupled with the fact that the Irish are accusing them of being behind the murders of prostitutes in their territory, will inevitably escalate into this.
- New Job as the Plot Demands: Due to being driven out of his honest delivery job by the Italians, Seamus has resorted to becoming a member of the Irish gang and make illegal deliveries for them instead.
- Not Proven: Fiona manages to evade justice for her moonshine operation since, as far as the law goes, producing moonshine isn't illegal, and there isn't solid proof that she's making a business out of it.Maddie: That woman is so frustrating! We know she's behind the racket... but she's right, we can't prove she's selling anything!
- Not So Stoic: Fiona likes to act stoical (albeit a bit smug) for the most part, but she momentarily loses her cool when you inform her that the police will be closing down one of her distilleries, getting angry and shouting a Big "WHAT?!" before regaining composure.
- Punny Name: Davy Byrne burned to death.
- Pragmatic Villainy: Fiona claims that if (and only IF) the victim worked for her, she wouldn't have any reason to kill him, as it would be bad for business.
- Real Men Wear Pink: One of the killer's traits is that they read the romance magazine Pistols and Petticoats, and both male suspects in this case proudly admit that they do.Seamus: I may read "Pistols and Petticoats", but I do know how to fight!
- Road Apples: In Viola's words, you find "horse pucky" in the victim's hat, which allows you to deduce the killer is in contact with the animal.
- Serial Killer: During the Additional Investigation, you discover that there's one nicknamed "Scarlet Slayer", who for the past months has been killing prostitutes working in Sinner's End, although the Irish are convinced that this is work of the Italians.
- Ship Tease: Seamus and Giulietta fall in Love at First Sight in this case, but it isn't made clear if they have started dating, specially because Seamus is Irish and Giulietta Italian, which are supposed to be sworn enemies.
- Shout-Out:
- The case's title is a reference to the comic book superhero Nova, whose catchphrase is "Blue blazes!".
- The Scarlet Slayer, a Serial Killer who has been murdering multiple prostitutes (including one named Annie), is a clear parody of Jack the Ripper.
- Speak of the Devil: This is how Fiona is introduced, right after Maddie claims that the crate full of moonshine with her name engraved might be enough to led to her.Fiona: And why would the Concordian Flying Squad need to be led to me?Maddie: Fiona Flanagan! How did you just waltz in here?Fiona: Speak of "The Viper" and she shall appear.
- Stealing from Thieves: The victim had been stealing production money from Fiona, who noticed and sent a banshee plaque as a warning to him.
- The Stoic: In contrast with her more boisterous brother, Fiona is a rather calm and level-headed smooth talker, and quickly manages to regain her composure after her only Not So Stoic moment in the case.
- Sweet Baker: Mauro Massetti is a pretty nice guy who claims his cannoli is the best in all of Concordia, although this didn't stop him from murdering the victim due to refusing to pay him.
- Textile Work Is Feminine: Molly Byrne works as a seamstress in Sinner's End, and is, according to Giulietta, the best one in all of Concordia, which is why she's willing to risk her life entering in Irish territory just to request a dress from her.
- Ungrateful Bastard: Mauro accuses the victim of being this, claiming that, when Davy arrived to Concordia, Mauro gave him money for a fresh start despite both of them coming from enemy factions, but Davy refused to pay Mauro much later for being Italian. It's the main reason why Mauro murdered him.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Katherine wrote an article on the Concordian Police Department asking why they weren't doing anything regarding the Scarlet Slayer, claiming that they didn't care about the prostitutes of Sinner's End being brutally murdered.
