I know this is probably a common topic. For me, I’m not sure if it’s a “trope” or just totally misinformed writing, but it’s how many authors approach alcoholism. Some examples are Girl on the Train and The House Across the Lake, among HUNDREDS. If anyone else here has struggled with alcoholism, you know it’s not just "i woke up after downing an entire bottle of whiskey but was able to shower, down a cup of coffee, and solve a murder. "
The seemingly innocuous detail in all detective books that turns out to be the linchpin of the whole mystery.
Same with a lot of Dickens stuff, something at the start a small detail, turns out to be the “thing”.
I don’t mind this when the author is able to truly work it in to the story. It bothers me when it’s an obvious “innocuous detail”.
I wish I could remember what I recently read that had a terribly obvious detail and I was mad I wasted time on it lol.