tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543098270794087276.post9210310275537056440..comments2023-09-27T03:56:54.678-05:00Comments on As We Were Saying....: What Makes A Great Detective?Ruby Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030839859107760855noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543098270794087276.post-40099421199524093552011-01-21T11:05:24.752-06:002011-01-21T11:05:24.752-06:00Donnell,
Thank you. It was a lot of fun writing ...Donnell,<br /><br />Thank you. It was a lot of fun writing it. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543098270794087276.post-61474696309969760332011-01-20T17:41:29.001-06:002011-01-20T17:41:29.001-06:00I am late checking in on this blog, but I wanted t...I am late checking in on this blog, but I wanted to say it was fascinating. We always think of the great Arthur Conan Doyle as creating the unforgettable Sherlock Holmes. But I don't think I ever thought who or what inspired that character. And now we know. Thank you so much M.T. This was hardly an elementary blog ;)Donnell Ann Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07943037206984648849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543098270794087276.post-23760075828134043402011-01-18T20:34:58.792-06:002011-01-18T20:34:58.792-06:00Ruby and Anonymous,
No, I don't think that em...Ruby and Anonymous,<br /><br />No, I don't think that emotional flaws are part of what it means to be a great detective. But I do think it's important to give the detectives in our stories flaws because they are also "human beings." This is something we should never forget when writing. By giving our characters emotional flaws and a backstory we can all relate to, we make them unique. And I think it makes us admire even more their courage to bring wrongdoers to justice by following the law.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543098270794087276.post-10731177477425125942011-01-18T13:03:47.085-06:002011-01-18T13:03:47.085-06:00M.T. thanks so much for being our guest. My questi...M.T. thanks so much for being our guest. My question is with so many detective stories out there, how do you make your detective unique from the others out there. <br />RubyRubyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04269608145903301622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543098270794087276.post-27151573790774422642011-01-18T12:44:33.143-06:002011-01-18T12:44:33.143-06:00In most police procedurals the detectives have maj...In most police procedurals the detectives have major emotional flaws. Do you feel this is important in establishing a great detective?<br />JanineAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543098270794087276.post-83537916415740334262011-01-18T09:29:46.997-06:002011-01-18T09:29:46.997-06:00Sonya,
I’m glad you liked the post. :)
I agree w...Sonya,<br /><br />I’m glad you liked the post. :)<br /><br />I agree with you that a strong grounding in ethics is "what drives many detectives to pursue a case until all possible angles are exhausted." It will also keep a detective from engaging in misconduct such as unnecessarily roughing up a suspect to obtain a confession, or planting evidence to convict a suspect the detective believes is guilty, or “losing” evidence that would show a suspect’s innocence. But more is at stake here than refraining from wrongdoing. If what one cares about is not just justice in the abstract but the enforcement of principles of justice, then a healthy respect for the law is necessary because ethical principles by themselves are not self-enforcing. Only a legal system has the power to enforce justice.<br /><br />And so it is essential that all detectives understand why refraining from such conduct is necessary for a successful prosecution and the eventual conviction of a suspect who he or she has reason to believe is responsible for the crime, as well as knowing what legal procedures must be followed for that successful conviction. Without such respect, justice is undermined.<br /><br />To read a story about an actual case where this happened, click here:<br />http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2010/10/08/pei-summerside-police-misconduct-584.html<br /><br />This was a robbery case in which the police officers were clearly trying to right a wrong, but it wouldn’t be any different for a murder case.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543098270794087276.post-954829424143065382011-01-17T20:17:04.921-06:002011-01-17T20:17:04.921-06:00I agree with you, especially about the deep and ab...I agree with you, especially about the deep and abiding sense of justice. I think that seeking justice is what drives many detectives to pursue a case until all possible angles are exhausted. Great post! <br /><br />SonyaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com