Deserializing polymorphic json classes without type information using json.net

Question

This Imgur api call returns a list containing both Gallery Image and Gallery Album classes represented in JSON.

I can't see how to deserialize these automatically using Json.NET given that there is no $type property telling the deserializer which class is meant to be represented. There is a property called "IsAlbum" that can be used to differentiate between the two.

This question appears to show one method but it looks like a bit of a hack.

How do I go about deserializing these classes? (using C#, Json.NET).

Sample Data:

Gallery Image

{
    "id": "OUHDm",
    "title": "My most recent drawing. Spent over 100 hours.",
        ...
    "is_album": false
}

Gallery Album

{
    "id": "lDRB2",
    "title": "Imgur Office",
    ...
    "is_album": true,
    "images_count": 3,
    "images": [
        {
            "id": "24nLu",
            ...
            "link": "http://i.imgur.com/24nLu.jpg"
        },
        {
            "id": "Ziz25",
            ...
            "link": "http://i.imgur.com/Ziz25.jpg"
        },
        {
            "id": "9tzW6",
            ...
            "link": "http://i.imgur.com/9tzW6.jpg"
        }
    ]
}
}

Answer 1

Simple with my package that provides the JsonSubTypes attribute that works with Json.NET:

[JsonConverter(typeof(JsonSubtypes), "is_album")]
[JsonSubtypes.KnownSubType(typeof(GalleryAlbum), true)]
[JsonSubtypes.KnownSubType(typeof(GalleryImage), false)]
public abstract class GalleryItem
{
    public string id { get; set; }
    public string title { get; set; }
    public string link { get; set; }
    public bool is_album { get; set; }
}

public class GalleryImage : GalleryItem
{
    // ...
}

public class GalleryAlbum : GalleryItem
{
    public int images_count { get; set; }
    public List<GalleryImage> images { get; set; }
}