Implicit and explicit methods that are used for a specifi c literary work to build itself and its own critical commentary, are the theme of this paper. In the discourse of Better Part of Valour, diegetic and linguistic selfconsciousness of the text are recognized and described. It is also recognized that the novel has overt forms of linguistic and diegetic selfconsciousness and covert form of diegetic selfconsciousness. There is analysis of mise-en-abyme (story in the story), allegory and various ways of monitoring the process of formation of the novel; tematic linguistic codes in the novel and the actualization of narrative model of detective and love novels.

the 20th century Croatian literature; Ivan Slamnig; novel; metatextuality; parody; detective novel