Can You Hear Me Now?
January 2, 2025
While wandering the ‘net searching out ideas for a blog post, I stumbled across a factoid that had slipped my memory. And that fact? It was eighteen years ago this month that Steve Jobs first introduced the iPhone (the actual commercial version wasn’t formally released until June of that same year.)
Eighteen years! We’re talking almost a generation, meaning that babies born at the same time as Jobs’ creation have now reached adulthood. And in the nearly two decades since the iPhone’s origin the world of technology has advanced in unbelievable ways. Even my husband, one of the most Luddite guys I know, has had an iPhone strapped to his hip for years and is on it constantly. So, what does this have to do with writing?
Lots…particularly if we’re talking mystery novels.
Watch the news or one of those true-crime series, and you’ll immediately see how the cellphone has become a modern police investigational tool, particularly when it comes to murder. The “Find my Phone” feature with sharing options enabled on a victim’s cell has allowed bodies to be found in minutes, rather than hours or days. “Pinging” records from cellphone towers have shown a victim or criminal’s progress…and pinpointed where that movement ceased. Emails and web searches found on the phone often have provided invaluable information. And let’s not forget the chance bystander who whipped out their own cellphone and took videos of suspicious activity that later yielded important clues.
Today’s authors whose mystery novels are set in contemporary times can’t forget the ubiquitousness of cellphones in our society while plotting their stories. But optionally, writers can flip the script and set up their characters so they are removed from their phones. Not only can this put the characters in further jeopardy, but it often requires greater cleverness on their (and the author’s) part to get them back out of that danger. (And it shouldn’t need to be said but, no, the old “my battery is dead” is NOT an acceptable excuse for a protagonist not having access to a cellphone.)
What’s your feeling about technology in contemporary mysteries…and could any of the classic and Golden Age mysteries still work if a cellphone were thrown into the works?
Want to know more about our author Diane A. S. Stuckart? Visit her website.
Posted in with Diane A.S. Stuckart • Tags: Can You Hear Me Now, Diane A S Stuckart, Golden Age mysteries, ipnone | 26 Comments
I know that when I’m reading contemporary mysteries, I find it much less plausible if cell phones and other modern technologies are not included… although, I have read some stories that don’t specify a time period and I had no issues with the absence of technology.
Sometimes those technologies are so ubiquitous that they often become invisible to us, and as writers we need to consciously make sure they’re included.
Talk about a trip down memory lane — I sat next to one of the ‘can you hear me’ technicians on a flight back to Tampa. They really did walk down the street saying, “Can you hear me now?” to search for dead spots.
LOL, Cheryl, I had no idea that was real. 🙂
I think the only time an author can get away with not acknowledging the pervasiveness of all technology these days is to set a book prior to when that technology became so available that it wouldn’t appear realistic not to incorporate it. It goes well beyond iPhones these days. There are cameras on just about every street corner, everywhere we shop and work, and attached to every doorbell or front and back door. This often presents a challenge to authors, but at the same time it forces us to come up with new and creative ways for our sleuths to solve mysteries.
Sue Grafton kept her Alphabet series locked firmly in the 80s, which worked well for her. 🙂 But I’m not sure how well that strategy would work anymore.
I hadn’t thought about it before, but now there’s an entire generation who have no idea of what life was like before cellphones. I can remember thinking how cool it was that I could stay in touch with my office while I was on the road. Now, I think, how wonderful it is to be able to disconnect! 🙂
Back in the day I had a very brief stint in outside sales, and I can recall battling for free pay phones to make my calls. 🙂
Like just about everything else it has its pros and cons. May you all have a great day. I enjoyed reading this post and it really makes you think, how everything has changed throughout the years and who knows whatever changes will keep on happening.
Thanks, Alicia, glad you liked. Yep, that changing technology sure keeps us contemporary authors on our toes!
I think being able to snap a picture so easily is a great advantage in mysteries. But I still question how the bad guys (or random people) can so easily call the sleuth to offer threats, clues, etc. How do strangers get their number? It’s not like they’re all listed in the phonebook these days.
Good question, Alicia. I know you can find a lot of that info online with those “white pages” sites. Speaking of which, I find myself slightly horrified remembering that once my name, address, and phone number were right out there in the phone book for anyone to see!
don’t matter to me
That definitely makes it easy for us! 😉
Take a look at The series A Haunted Bookshop Mystery by Alice Kimberly . She does quite well in mixing modern technology with the past and the present.
Thanks, will check it out.
We have to acknowledge technology in our stories, although I don’t get into details with my cozy mysteries. Cell phones as used by my sleuth, yes. But forensic advancements aren’t something I care to address, such as facial recognition and other techniques not relevant to an amateur sleuth. Her detective husband might relate this info to her, but in a conversational manner.
I like the point you make about the characters being amateur sleuths. I like to think of the main characters as an every day person who in a scary situation may not be thinking clearly. So details on all technology that could be used on a cell phone to enhance sleuthing skills aren’t really needed.
I have noticed in several stories that the sleuth will record a confession on their phone that is in their pocket, on a shelf, etc but that is usually planned and not an in the moment reaction.
Makes sense, Nancy.
Technology and cell phones definitely have a place in contemporary fiction. I don’t think they fit in older eras.
LOL, when I read older (60s and earlier) mysteries I instinctively want to yell at the sleuth, just whip out your cell phone and take a picture/record the conversation/call for help! And then I remember….
I think cell phones are a good thing to have in an emergency, but it also makes the story more interesting when the main character has to figure out another way to get out of a situation without technology, especially since more often than not, the bad guy/girl takes the main protagonist’s phone away from them immediately, so they have figure out another way to save themselves.
Robyn, agree. Having a character removed from the security of their usual devices can add a lot of tension to the story.
I expect to see modern technology used in today’s mysteries, definitely.
Kara, agreed. 🙂
Modern technology would certainly make some things easier, but the Golden Age sleuths have to rely on their own skis.