Before I get started, you should know I’m omitting the names of the real people in this recount to protect myself. It’s not that I think I’m going to be doxed or anything like that. I’m just exercising an abundance of caution.

Last week, I watched a stand-up comic’s video on YouTube. Humor is subjective, which is the reason I don’t usually watch comedies. I often don’t get it. Very frustrating. But I’ve seen parts of this comic’s routine in the past. I found it smart as well as funny. I thought his video would be worth the risk, and that day I needed a laugh. It was past time for a few belly guffaws.

I started the video, and this comedian was great. He made me laugh so hard I was crying. I couldn’t breathe. I felt rejuvenated. The cobwebs cleared. I got a burst of energy. Years melted away. Success!

During his routine, he moved almost seamlessly from topic to topic as a lot of comedians do. At one point, he started talking about a billionaire who got famous or at least raised his profile by trying to biohack his way to live, allegedly, to at least 200 years old. I’d never heard any of this before.

At the time, this billionaire was chronologically in his 40s. However, he wasn’t taking care of himself. He didn’t eat well. He didn’t sleep much. He didn’t exercise. As a result, his body had the health scores of someone in his 50s. He resolved to take better care of himself. The comedian pointed out the billionaire started with simple changes. He ate healthier meals, exercised, and got eight hours of sleep per night. As his health improved, he seemed to get a little carried away. For example, he allegedly got a blood transfusion from his son. A blood transfusion.

That’s when I realized this segment of his routine sounded a lot like the plot of an episode of Elsbeth, the crime fiction dramedy on CBS.

I don’t usually watch Elsbeth because I can never remember when it’s on. That’s the same reason I’ve stopped watching a lot of network TV shows like FBI and Will Trent. I can’t remember when they’re on. But one day, I discovered I could binge watch a season of Elsbeth. During the binge, I saw the episode with the biohacking billionaire. I thought it was really out there. How did they come up with this premise? Well, now I’m pretty sure I know. The character—not the crime—was ripped from the headlines. Imagine my surprise.

I used to love ripped-from-the-headlines crime fiction premises but over the years, their appeal has dimmed for me. I still like them, but I prefer stories that allow me to unplug from current events or even not-so-current events.

Question: Do you have a preference between ripped-from-the-headlines crime fiction and mysteries in which the premises are more fictitious?

Patricia Sargeant writes romantic suspense as Patricia Sargeant, cozy mysteries as Olivia Matthews, and contemporary romances as Regina Hart. No, she’s not in the witness protection program. Her work has been featured in national publications such as Publishers Weekly, USA Today, Suspense Magazine, Mystery Scene Magazine, and Library Journal. Claim your subscription to her enewsletter at her website.