NFT: Who is your favorite fictional detective?

On the screen - Christopher Foyle in 'Foyle's War.'

Harry Bosch.

Inspector Clouseau for many but I will go for Inspector Morse. Honorable mention for Columbo.

he pretty much doubled as a detective: Carl Kolchak.

and John Rebus (Ian Rankin's creation).

It's Holmes

Not sure if my favorite, but Rust Chole came to mind for TV

Used to enjoy the Spencer novels.

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Honorable mention: Andy Sipowitz (NYPD Blue)

In comment 14845726 section125 said:

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Harry Bosch.

Harry Bosch is great. Titus Welliver is good playing the part in the Amazon Prime series based on the books.

Sherlock Holmes is the legend, I’ve read the books multiple times

Also a fan of Myron Bolovar & Win Lockwood from Harlan Coben’s books

I'd add a new-to-the-party entry with Bill Hodges from Stephen Kings Mr. Mercedes trilogy. Turns out King writes a pretty good crime novel.

not really, but thought he deserved mention.

I loved the Hardy Boys. Now it is Columbo.

Does George Smiley count?

Otherwise Arkady Renko

Or Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee from the New Mexico Series by Tony Hillerman. The books are steeped in one of my favorite places...the six hundred miles circumference around the Four Corners where New Mexico/Arizona/Colorado/Utah meet.

Agree on Bosch...terrific show.

Also Kurt Wallander...Swedish series that's also terrific and a BBC variation with Kenneth Branagh.

I liked Longmire (for the same reasons as the New Mexico series but set in Wyoming)

By Andrew Vachss.

Not for everyone but I really liked that series

In comment 14845770 Bill2 said:

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Does George Smiley count?

Haha, came back to this thread to ask the same thing.

And frank Drebin......

Just a great great trilogy

Hope you are well jrud. Hang tough in tough times

Sirius channel 148 has a great selection of old time radio and there's a radio program called "Yours Truly Johnny Dollar". Johnny Dollar is an insurance investigator from Hartford, Connecticut. The programs are well done and very well written and acted...

Alex Kellerman books

In comment 14845790 Bill2 said:

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Just a great great trilogy Hope you are well jrud. Hang tough in tough times

Im embarrassed to admit it but as much as I read I only learned of the character from the movie, then went back and started going through the books. I was psyched to see just how big the series is.


And likewise, hope you and yours are safe.

Hercule Poirot

and his car

Poirot and Miss Marple are right up there, and I also like Nero Wolfe

I thought the books transcend spy or detective novels and move into genuine literature.

.

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Hammer is great.

Don't know if you'd consider him a detective, but Agent Pendergast is badass.

In comment 14845814 Anakim said:

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And Jake from "Chinatown"

In comment 14845813 Bill2 said:

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I thought the books transcend spy or detective novels and move into genuine literature.

I agree, Bill. The Smiley trilogy was exceptional. Walter Mosley's writing can sometimes do the same...not in the Easy Rawlins books, but especially in the 1st Socrates Fortlow book, Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned.

Len Deighton's trilogy was pretty darn good too.

not a detective but Magnum (Tom Selleck version) is mine.

Maybe because it was part of a crazy lineup of awesome shows that had me skip class in college more often than not.

White Shadow
Magnum, PI
CHiPS
A-Team

then go to lunch - that was a typical day in college.

Joel Cairo: You always have a very smooth explanation...

Spade: What do you want me to do - learn to stutter?

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working for the FBI.

Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee. Wonderful tandem

featuring Chef Inspecteur Maigret from Georges Simenon.

There's a worldly blackinsh tone to the works, and the "methods d'emploi" is typically the same to solve each murder: dig into and understand the victim, and you will arrive at how and why and by whom the murder occurred.

Good stuff. Good food scenes too, if brief compared with the Nero Wolf series.

I am not sure you would call him a detective but Repairman Jack from te F. Paul Wilson novels.
Bosch is great though.

Maybe not my favorite, but he would be top 5.

In comment 14845809 lono801 said:

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and his car

Rockford Files? Probably the greatest PI show ever.

Retired Chief of Detectives in the Lawrence Sanders Deadly Sins Novel series is my favorite of favorites.

What separates Delaney from all the rest are his eating habits.

Before Delaney solves any of the Deadly Sins he must make himself a sandwhich which Sanders goes into great detail with regard to all the toppings and fixings.

Inevitably I must put the book down and fix myself something to eat before I can re-engage.

I almost always put on weight when reading about whatever Deadly Sin Chief Delaney resolves to solve

from the John Sanford series.

John Corey from the Nelson DeMille series.

Harry Bosch from the Michael Connelly series, which I'm working through now.

Bill2, you might enjoy Stallion Gate from Martin Cruz Smith. Some mystery, fact and fiction mixed in to your geographical preference.

In comment 14845916 ChicagoMarty said:

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Retired Chief of Detectives in the Lawrence Sanders Deadly Sins Novel series is my favorite of favorites. What separates Delaney from all the rest are his eating habits. Before Delaney solves any of the Deadly Sins he must make himself a sandwhich which Sanders goes into great detail with regard to all the toppings and fixings. Inevitably I must put the book down and fix myself something to eat before I can re-engage. I almost always put on weight when reading about whatever Deadly Sin Chief Delaney resolves to solve

I read The Case of Lucy Bending when I was a kid and loved the Edward X series. Did you happen to read his last book? I started but just couldn’t continue, very strange story line, disturbing really.

,,

I enjoyed working my way thru the Doc Ford series of books by Randy Wayne White. Set in SW Florida, with a biological bent and just a hint of sex to keep it interesting.

It's recommended to read the books in the order they were written, as you can see both the Character and the Author growing in sync with each other.



Link - ( New Window )

getting an honorable mention shout out (Jim Rockford ie James Garner)

MOOPS.

I haven't read that one