by Janis Patterson
Modern technology is taking a lot of the fun out of mystery
writing. I mean, with caller ID, DNA, tracking devices, the ability to ping
cell towers, virtual reality crime scene re-creation, instant background checks
through multiple databases, ubiquitous surveillance cameras, facial
recognition, computer access.... well, you know what I mean. What is there left
to detect? A computer geek with access to the proper modern toys can often solve
the mystery without leaving the comfort of his ergonomic chair in his mother's
basement.
The more widely spread such electronic goodies become, the harder
it becomes for mystery writers to find ways for their electronically-challenged
sleuths to create a believable scenario. Some have frankly given up and fled
into the past, where real, human-based detecting is the norm. Others twist
probability into pretzels by locating their stories on remote islands, during
power outages, and the like. A few - a very few - writers have mastered the
balance of solving crimes with electronically available data and human
detecting in a palatable form. I salute them. Many, many more have not.
Let's face it - while many if not most people use electronic
toys such as cell phones and computers, how many are really conversant with how
they work? We hit one button dialing or click a screen to make phone calls, we
surf the net with a few clicks, but that's about the extent of a lot of
people's knowledge. I'm one of them, and to me it's boring where in a mystery
the detective (either by himself or with his super-techy partner) look at a
computer screen, spout a couple of incomprehensible tech words (which to the
average reader might as well be Urdu or Dogon) and poof! - there is a clue if
not the entire solution to the mystery. Somehow some TV shows do this well and
believably, but in books.... boorrring! And I suspect somehow the palatability
of super-tech in TV shows has a lot to do with how hot the actor is spouting
all the computer jargon!
So what is a tech-challenged writer to do? We can't all put
our mysteries on desert islands or during power outages or someplace else where
instant information is not the norm. We can't all have our sleuth continually
forgetting to charge his/her cell phone or leaving it behind. Most people in
real life seem to have their cell phones surgically attached! Now we not only
have to craft a believable mystery but also create logical reasons why our
sleuth can't jump on the 'net, do a few clicks and find out at least half a
book's information, including, of course, the one pertinent clue that solves
the mystery. All of which, sadly, would in real logically take place on page 25
or so. Sigh.
I don't have any answers. I've taken heat from readers
because my sleuths are tech-challenged, then declaring that my stories aren't
believable because my sleuths aren't in constant contact with the 'net. One of
my solutions is to have a sleuth (Flora Melkiot, EXERCISE IS MURDER, MURDER IN
DEATH'S WAITING ROOM) who is elderly - but don't let her hear you say that -
and finds modern technology both unmannerly and common. Plus, she is wildly
nosy and loves winkling information out of other people. She is also quite
rich, and I think I would like to grow up and be her!
Anyway, this problem is not going away. For those of you who
can believably construct a mystery using modern technology in a way that is
palatable with the majority of readers - I salute you! For the rest of us... I
don't know. I just might follow my betters and escape to the past, where rotary
dials are cutting edge, cars have manual transmissions (my favorite!), and
privacy was not only the norm, but valued. I know I'll see some of you there!
On another note, I would like to say that my YouTube channel
is up and running - and I would be most appreciative if you would drop by. It's
called Janis' Tips and Tales, and a
new episode is released on the fourth Thursday of every month. Thank you!
