Ethical Deviations On The Hard-Boiled Detective in Sarah Pare Sky's "Grace Notes"

Ethical deviations on the hard-
boiled detective in Sarah Pare

sky's "Grace Notes"
In this essay I will examine the presence of the ethical elements of the
archetypical detective stories, as described by Brendan Riley in his essay
"From Sherlock to Angel: The Twenty-First Century Detective", in the short
story "Grace notes" by Sarah Paretsky. Riley mentions two significant phases
in the development of detective fiction: the classical and the hard-boiled.
Riley lists two significant Criteria for differentiating them, which are relevant
to the subject of this essay:
1. The method employed by the detective. According to Riley, the
classical detective uses ratiocination and intellect (909), whereas the “hard-
boiled detectives operate more on gut instinct and happenstance. Sam
Spade travels from place to place, […] often happening upon an event that
helps move his case along.” (912). Because of their heroes` different
methods, the hard-boiled narratives developed more adventurous pattern
(910). Holmes could solve a case almost entirely from his chair, where as
Marlowe will have to wander through all of L. A. before he`s through. As a
result, the very character of the detective changes: “Where classical

2
detectives operate in a detached, scientific way, hardboiled detectives
investigate because they care about their clients;" (909). However, if the
hard-boiled doesn`t display the analytical prowess of his classic predecessor,
what is his special talent? According to Riley, "the [hard-boiled] detective’s
virtue (along with quick wits and righteousness) might be the only card he
hold.” (909-10). Holmes solves crime very much to his own amusement and
even vanity, displaying his abilities and finding order in a seemingly chaotic
situation. If society and justice benefit, well, that`s almost just a bonus. The
hardboiled detectives` motives are more ethical, ideological even, a notion
that is reflected in the more personal and risky way they solve their
mysteries.
2. The social meaning of the solution of the crime. While both types of
detective stories feature the comeuppance of criminals, the nature of the
criminal element differs significantly:
Classical detective stories ‘‘aestheticize’’ crime, making a chaotic
moment into an artistic puzzle. They also attribute crimes to individuals,
an important psychic salve for middle-class readers concerned with the
rising rate of crime in urban centers (98 – 104). Classical detective
stories reenforce notions of individual responsibility, rational thought,
and crime. They eschew social explanations for crime in favor of
individual ones. (909)

3
The Hardboiled detective gives us a grittier and more complicated view of
society:
Instead of tracing the criminal activity to a single individual, hard-boiled
detectives find themselves uncovering more and more mysteries […]
finally, the track leads back to the rich and respectable levels of society
and exposes the corrupt relationship between the pillars of the
community and the criminal underground. (909)
The hard-boiled detective despises the rich, scoffs at petty criminals and
distrusts authorities, yet he must interact and even cooperate with all of
them at one point or another. Thus, the hard-boiled detective presents a
more unsettling view of society and human nature. As Riley puts it: "Marlowe
bolsters the notion of individual morality standing against a corrupt culture."
(910).
Riley continues to link these phases with the technological
developments of the era, as well as analyze the effect of new technologies
on current detective narrative, using the television show "Angel" as his case
study. These themes will not be discussed in this paper. Instead, I will
attempt to analyze the way in which "Grace Notes" differs from the two
aforementioned phases of detective fiction, and try to venture as to what
these deviations mean.

4
In "Grace Notes", private detective VI`s life is shaken by an ad asking
for information about her deceased mother. After she responds to the ad and
meets with a sleazy businessman (Ranier), Vico, a long lost Italian relative,
enters her life, searching for a lost music sheet. VI and Vico try to recover
the lost sheets. After VI finds Mr. Fortieri, a friend of the family, injured, she
realizes she`s been duped and goes to Ranier`s office.
It`s rather clear that VI is more of a hard-boiled detective than a
classical one. She solves the mystery not through logical conclusion but by
running about, meeting people and getting into trouble. On the other hand,
VI gets along with the authorities (slightly) better than the average hard-
boiled detective and is even saved by them near the end of the story. The
crime VI investigates doesn`t reach `the pillars of the society', even though
Ranier seems to have some level of social status. The solution is rather
simple and not as convoluted as expected from the typical hardboiled
detective story (though this could relate to the limited scope of a short story
compared to a novel). These elements seem to give "Grace Notes" a slightly
more optimistic view of human nature, making it less cynical and critical of
society a whole.
There are two more meaningful ways in which Grace notes differs from
the archetypical detective story: the detective is a woman and she doesn`t
have a client. The fact that VI is a woman doesn’t change the social and
ethical themes of this detective story. However, the fact that VI isn`t helping
a client, but solving a personal family-related mystery, while protecting her

5
own property, puts a dent in the typical hard-boiled detective`s strong
ethical stance. Marlowe or Spade operate out of values of integrity and
loyalty to their clients, spending time and risking their lives so they can do
their job and help a person in need. Often, even after the client is satisfied,
these hard-boiled detectives will continue investigating down the rabbit hole,
to `get to the bottom of things` and try to eliminate the root of the evil
they`re facing. This element is eliminated in "Grace Notes". VI is
instrumental in putting the criminal Ranier behind bars, but his ties to the
mob are an afterthought and incidental to the story. She hunts him down
because he has tricked and stole from her. VI is operating from egotistic
motives. Without examining other stories that feature VI, or other stories
that feature a female detective, I cannot determine whether this is an
anomaly, or is this a pattern that should be thoroughly explored and perhaps
explained (as Riley explains the deviations in "Angel").
The classical detective charmed audience with his sharp intellect, while
creating order out of chaotic crimes, so that the middle class would feel safe.
The Hard-Boiled detective undermined notions of social security by
investigating crimes that could not be confined, or explained easily by the
classic detective`s logic. The hard-boiled detective had to summon all his grit
and virtue and venture on an adventure that might end with him dead – all
for the sake of his integrity as a professional and his ethical stance. However,
this stance is elusive. A hard-boiled detective may solve a crime and even
put criminals away, but without truly testing his moral fiber, his story will
6
lack that strong ethical motive, which is, in my opinion, the true appeal of
this genre.
Bibliography:
Angel. 2000-2004, WB.
Paretsky, Sara. "Grace notes" from "V. I. for Short". London penguin books,
1995. 197 – 246.
Riley, Brendan. "From Sherlock to Angel: The Twenty-First Century
Detective". The Journal of Popular Culture Vol. 42, Issue 5 (2009). 908 – 922.

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Ethical deviations on the hard-

boiled detective in Sarah Pare

archetypical detective stories, as described by Brendan Riley in his essay

"From Sherlock to Angel: The Twenty-First Century Detective", in the short

in the development of detective fiction: the classical and the hard-boiled.

to the subject of this essay:

1. The method employed by the detective. According to Riley, the

boiled detectives operate more on gut instinct and happenstance. Sam

methods, the hard-boiled narratives developed more adventurous pattern

Marlowe will have to wander through all of L. A. before he`s through. As a

result, the very character of the detective changes: “Where classical

detectives operate in a detached, scientific way, hardboiled detectives

hard-boiled doesn`t display the analytical prowess of his classic predecessor,

what is his special talent? According to Riley, "the [hard-boiled] detective’s

hardboiled detectives` motives are more ethical, ideological even, a notion

detective stories feature the comeuppance of criminals, the nature of the

criminal element differs significantly:

Classical detective stories ‘‘aestheticize’’ crime, making a chaotic

moment into an artistic puzzle. They also attribute crimes to individuals,

an important psychic salve for middle-class readers concerned with the

rising rate of crime in urban centers (98 – 104). Classical detective

stories reenforce notions of individual responsibility, rational thought,

and crime. They eschew social explanations for crime in favor of

individual ones. (909)

The Hardboiled detective gives us a grittier and more complicated view of

Instead of tracing the criminal activity to a single individual, hard-boiled

detectives find themselves uncovering more and more mysteries […]

and exposes the corrupt relationship between the pillars of the

community and the criminal underground. (909)

them at one point or another. Thus, the hard-boiled detective presents a

bolsters the notion of individual morality standing against a corrupt culture."

Riley continues to link these phases with the technological

developments of the era, as well as analyze the effect of new technologies

aforementioned phases of detective fiction, and try to venture as to what

these deviations mean.

In "Grace Notes", private detective VI`s life is shaken by an ad asking

realizes she`s been duped and goes to Ranier`s office.

It`s rather clear that VI is more of a hard-boiled detective than a

simple and not as convoluted as expected from the typical hardboiled

compared to a novel). These elements seem to give "Grace Notes" a slightly

a client, but solving a personal family-related mystery, while protecting her

own property, puts a dent in the typical hard-boiled detective`s strong

ethical stance. Marlowe or Spade operate out of values of integrity and

they`re facing. This element is eliminated in "Grace Notes". VI is

that feature a female detective, I cannot determine whether this is an

anomaly, or is this a pattern that should be thoroughly explored and perhaps

explained (as Riley explains the deviations in "Angel").

The Hard-Boiled detective undermined notions of social security by

investigating crimes that could not be confined, or explained easily by the

1995. 197 – 246.

Riley, Brendan. "From Sherlock to Angel: The Twenty-First Century

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