I'm Still Not Over The Plot Twist In L.A. Noire's Homicide Desk

thegamer.com:

Major spoilers ahead for L.A. Noire's homicide desk

I play through L.A. Noire at least once a year. Even though I know every case inside out, and nothing surprises me anymore, I just can't get enough of Rockstar's post-war detective adventure. A big part of it is the setting. I'm very into the history of 1940s Los Angeles, Raymond Chandler novels, and film noir, so the game is a chance to step into a lavishly recreated depiction of that time period. I love the downbeat atmosphere, the melancholy soundtrack, its exceptional cast of talented TV character actors, and the classy, muted realism of it all.

This year I'm replaying L.A. Noire on the Switch, a great port that's been keeping me company on planes and trains. But as forgiving as I am of the game's many flaws, there's one thing that bugs me every time I go through it. At a certain point in the game, protagonist Cole Phelps is promoted to the homicide desk—the most prestigious assignment in the LAPD. This should be something to look forward to, but when you know the twist waiting at the end, it sours repeat playthroughs. Now I just want to get the homicide desk out of the way as quickly as I can.

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There are 6 cases on the homicide desk, which is a significant chunk of the game. Phelps and his veteran partner Finbarr 'Rusty' Galloway investigate a series of brutal slayings, which bear all the hallmarks of the Black Dahlia—the real-life murder of a woman, Elizabeth Short, that shocked Los Angeles in 1947. Phelps wonders if the crimes are connected, but Galloway insists they're all copycats. Husbands looking for a way to off their wives, he reckons. The pair bickering about this as they drive around