Ernest “Ern” Cunningham

Ernest Cunningham is the narrator of the novel and goes by Ern. Ern writes guides to help writers write mystery novels. Ern serves as the detective of the story and helps to solve several murders, including identifying the Black Tongue serial killer.

Ern is self-aware and wants to be objective and do the right thing. In doing the right thing, Ern testified against his brother Michael in a murder trial, which led to Ern’s estrangement from his family. As the detective in the novel, Ern wants to follow Knox’s 10 Commandment of Detective Fiction to a tee.

Ern communicates directly with the reader so that the reader can witness what is transpiring in the novel and know that Ern is telling the reader the truth. Ern is forthcoming about his family’s flaws and crimes, as well as about his failures and struggles in his...