Ruby Slippers

The Wizard of Oz

Dorothy, yellow, brick, road, ruby... What word should come next? Necklace? Earrings? Sapphire? If the1939 film version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz had not been produced who knows what the best answer would be? It wouldn't be necklace, earrings or sapphire in any case. Emerald could work. It would certainly be a better guess than slippers because the magic shoes in the original story were silver. But Dorothy's journey on the yellow brick road was always to the Emerald City. So, logically speaking,  ruby could have been a clue to name the precious gem that's central to the story.

However, you know that logic has nothing to do with the best answer because you know that The Wizard of Oz was produced. You know that the movie's imagery is rooted far more deeply in the collective mind of Oz fans everywhere than the book Dorothy, yellow, brick, road, ruby, slippers... 

Murder in Greenwich

Logic can help you find Murder in Greenwich ruby slippers if it strikes you that Dorothy's "slippers" were slip-on shoes and Ruby is a woman's name. You can guess that the mannequin in the picture window wearing a red hat that matches her red suit is also wearing red shoes but you don't have to guess about the actress playing Dorothy. Liddy Holloway's acting résumé includes a part as "Ruby" in an episode of a 1985 TV series. Ruby slippers are therefore any slip-on shoes you can see her wearing. Blink and you'll miss them in the scene outside the church after the funeral  but they are there.