WHAT WOULD SHERLOCK DO?

摘要

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A VORACIOUS READER and one of my favorite genres is detective novels. From the Hardy Boys to Joseph Wambaugh's cast of characters I have always enjoyed the various authors' takes on investigations, crime, and irony. From red herrings to actual clues, our heroes must traverse all the issues that those who seek justice must endure. As a young cop I began to seek out the more realistic and often less romantic versions of the detective narrative. While the Hardy Boys were wholesome and nice, Wambaugh's "Choirboys" were often dark and drunk. I often wonder how this influenced the young crimefighters of the 1970s and how many careers were rocked by imitating the characters' behaviors and attitudes.