Thats a common criticism but also a misinterpretation of the spells.
For example Speak with Dead answers are brief, cryptic and only what the person knew in life - so if the murder victim doesnt know who killed them, they can't tell you anything useful except for clues that you could gather by...
Just a question - Medieval Detective fiction is a thing, like the Cadfael Chronicles or the Crispin Guest mysteries, would you also consider those to be a Hardboiled setting?
I'm also thinking Discworlds Guard Series or the Garret PI series as settings. Tunfaire probably works fairly well...
Gunpowder weapons dates from the 10th century and hand cannons were widespread in China/Vietnam by the 13th Century and reached Europe by the 14th century (earliest documented use is 1326 in Florence)
The Loshult Hand Cannon dates to 1350 and was used by a German Knight.
The Point though is...
Spell Sniper Feat and Distant Spell already gets eldritch lance to 1200 ft = a quarter mile
not the easiest build, but then a martial sniper needs to be challenged for range and accuracy too
A criminal mastermind did do it there - "Diamond Jim" Fisk was a real NYC Robber Baron attached to Tammany Hall he and Al Capone are the inspiration behind Wilson Fisk although neither ran for mayor they did finance mayoral campaigns and are the reason lots of anticorruption laws were passed.
Why? Barbarians have damage resistance - so a percing bullet is only doing half damage even if its 3d6, Monks are suppose to be fast and able to dodge projectiles in order to get closeup in melee
differences in tech is a feature of some games so thats not really a reason not to explore guns...
The invisble stalker as tracker is a great idea. Peronally I like shadow mastiffs (or Bog Hounds) as its ability to blend into shadows and its fear inducing howl is great thematics for a vampiric stalker in the darkness.
For the Renfield analogue you could do Ravenloft style Goblyns (blood...
TEAM FUSION - SUBJECT:SHADE-9 - Beyond the Magic Mirror ...
Shade-9 stood before the veil as the others made their way around the bend and pass the fallen stalactite, lanterns highlighting their path now that the immediate dangers had been avoided. Not that the dangers had ended.
[ARCANE SENSOR...
latest episode was good though bleak, with Bullseye thinking he's one of the good guys!
I didnt expect the end scene - thats going to be a major escalation
Im not so sure given current situations and the fact that there have been convicted felons running for NYC council in the recent past.
The only real exaggeration is the Vigilante Taskforce which legally only the State Governor can inact