How a Modern-Day Detective Would Effect The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

A detective in the twenty-first century utilizes tools, technology, and training that were not available in the nineteen-hundreds. Now, detectives have a more advanced means of detection and detecting, utilize the bounties of science, are armed with decisive tools of accuracy and measurements, and have high levels of special training. The inclusion of a modern-day detective in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd would drastically increase the speed from which the case is solved by means of gathering, identifying, and interrogating suspects and witnesses, and finding out their whereabouts. One of the main reasons this is so is because of largely beneficial technological advances since the time of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. A major technological breakthrough that is only applicable through modern detectives is the ability to track and trace. Thanks to satellites and security cameras, a detective with proper clearance could easily find the whereabouts of witnesses and suspects. In fact, anything that uses the internet or a radio tower at all could be traced back right to the holder. This would be noticeably useful with Ralph Paton, who was missing for most of the book. Surely something, be it a cell phone or a security camera footage, would be able to locate Ralph Paton, who hid himself cleverly in a home for the mentally unstable. (Agatha, pg. 259) The whereabouts of everyone else at Fernly Park could also be discovered, leading to a quicker case, as the detective police will know what to do, who to speak to, and so on. Speaking of technological advancement, scientific advances are also extremely helpful in solving The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. Science has advanced tenfold since the nineteen-twenties. An example of an important scientific advantage would be a substance well known as deoxyribonucleic acid. The DNA of any person can be traced directly to them, with the right circumstances, of course. Anything from hairs, old skin cells, and even sweat can hold vital DNA. The ability to read DNA would likely

Joshua V. Perez

How a Modern-Day Detective Would Effect The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

significantly shorten the case length, as Sheppard, the murderer, had to have left something in a suspicious place. For example, he could have left a tiny hair in the path just outside Ackroyds study, where he escaped into the night, (Agatha, pg. 272) or he could have dropped a dry old skin cell in the silver table, where he got the murder weapon. (Agatha, pg. 275) Also, DNA examining could be used to discover whether or not Ralph actually stepped into the shoes that were found by the crime scene. Sweat or a foot cell could have contributed to evidence. Although a modern detectives technology would play a big role in the Murder of Roger Ackroyd, the training of detectives today would also be an invaluable asset. In the twenty-first century, there are effective methods for training detectives which would simply make the general stuff of detecting easier. During preliminary training, detectives learn to study a suspects or witnesss past, such as lifestyle, income, criminal history, etc. They will also learn to piece together all that information to form a personal profile of the suspect/witness. During training, future detectives also learn how to find and utilize special databases for this purpose. Trainees also learn basic tracing and discreet surveillance. A certain physical training is also accomplished. General evidence-gathering and such is taught, as well. (Detective Training Institution) With all of this training in techniques of a good private detective, missing a detail would be much harder. To understand the present, you need to know the past. (Detective Training Institution) The portion of training involving studying ones life history would likely keep every important detail in check for motives and the like. This, in conjunction with surveillance training, would be helpful in identifying Charles Kent faster. With the right tools and training, identifying him would be faster. Also, well-conditioned, well-disciplined, and well-trained detectives would think ore logistically, and therefore be able to string together facts similar to Poirot himself.

Joshua V. Perez

How a Modern-Day Detective Would Effect The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

As you can see, the inclusion of a modern-day detective would make a definite change in the case of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by way of advanced technology, scientific methods of tracking DNA, and precise tools, and detectives would be more able to find, identify, and interrogate witnesses much more effectively due to those abilities.

Joshua V. Perez