My Favourite Fictional Detectives

6/8/2013

... not since Chandler has a crime writer caught Los Angeles so well.

Over on Huffington Post I have written about my favourite fictional detectives, from the obvious to the rather unexpected.

Detectives are the enduring heroes of the crime genre, men and women whose character quirks and foibles remain with us long after the details of the mysteries they solved have been forgotten.

In any story, it is the characters who see the reader through to the end, becoming the friends we wonder about when not buried nose-deep in one of their adventures.

But in my list of top detectives I noticed a recurring theme - it is not just the heroes of the story who have impressed me, but the use of location as a supporting actor, a character in and of itself.

Few writers in any genre can capture a city’s mood so well...

12 Comments

Twila Coffey

7/8/2013 02:44:19 am

Mr. Walker: The Caves of Perigord just took its place, in bold face, on my list of most enjoyable/influential/memorable books contemporary with my adult life as a reader. I would like to address further remarks to you, but am not comfortable doing so on a public forum. If you choose, please provide me with a suitable email or postal address, either personal or via your publisher. Thank you for the gift of a great read.

Gary Van Cott

7/8/2013 04:55:24 am

I have just read the most recent Bruno book (The Devil's Cave). I have read them all. I enjoyed it, but there wasn't much in the way of character development. At one point Bruno speculates that it would be helpful to have a female police colleague. Adding another character like this might be one way to keep this series fresh.

Martin link

20/9/2013 03:19:33 am

There are many plans afoot for the series - I want to pace them so that Bruno can keep solving mysteries for many years to come.

Yves J. Winter

13/9/2013 07:20:55 pm

I have just read your article in the Huffington Post and you're making a very valid point. May I add another two interesting characters in Italy, namely Salvo Montalbano from Vigata in Sicily (by Andrea Camilleri) and the ever exiled Venetian Arelio Zen (by Michael Didbin). Both with a penchant versus well made food and complicated women. Best regards from an avid reader of your books and lover of good food, wine and complicated women ;-)

Martin link

20/9/2013 03:12:37 am

Thank you very much for the pointers - I will seek them out. I'm always looking for new authors to enjoy.

Gary Van Cott

14/9/2013 01:40:13 am

I really like the Montalbano series. I am up to date with all of the books that have been translated into English and am waiting for the next one which has a street date (in the US) of 24 September 2013. For someone with limited time, I think the first 6-7 books have more interesting plots than the more recent ones.

I was mostly disappointed with the Aurelio Zen series. Except for the first book, the cases are mostly resolved by accident. Another unfortunate thing is that Dibdin (1947-2007) passed away before he could conclude the series. It thought about 2 more books would have done it. I do have to say that Cosi Fan Tutti was one of the most humorous books I have read in this genre.

Martin link

20/9/2013 03:18:22 am

I've read one of the Montalbano books, although I can't remember which one. I do recall enjoying it, however - I shall have to seek out the series.

Kirsty Smith

26/9/2013 01:34:37 am

The TV series is excellent - and was what turned me on to the books. It's in Italian with subtitles (which stops me reading other things at the same time as watching!). Just now in the UK they are running a "Young Montalbano" series, a kind of prequel, which I'm surprised to say is almost as good as the book-driven series - worth checking out, certainly.

Elizabeth link

8/12/2014 01:57:59 pm

The Drowning Pool is the second of the eighteen Archer novels; in it, Macdonald still hasn’t found the rock solid formulas that appear to first surface with The Galton Case and continue on up to The Blue Hammer. In the earlier Archer books he’s still dabbling a little too much in the Hammet, Chandler, hardboiled school. The Drowing Pool has more than a fair share of a lot of gimmicky shtick. Before I discuss it in a little detail I would like to list and quote the first ten similes similes I uncovered in the first sixty two pages of the book, doing so for perspective’s sake.
http://postmoderndeconstructionmadhouse.blogspot.com/2014/11/ross-macdonald-drowning-pool.html#.VIaLTdKUeRZ

Elizabeth link

8/5/2015 03:13:13 pm

In studying the Lew Archer novels of Ross Macdonald I’ve tried to identify certain characteristics, themes, motifs, images – call them what you like – that crop up frequently throughout the various books. I don’t claim that the following are particularly important or have any special significance or meaning; nor do I say this is a comprehensive list.
http://postmoderndeconstructionmadhouse.blogspot.com/2014/12/ross-macdonald-characteristics-of.html#.VU14pNKUcwB

Martin link

30/5/2015 10:37:29 pm

I can see you've certainly got a keen eye for detective fiction!

Robin Menken

12/6/2022 02:58:31 pm

I can no longer find your 2013 article favourite fictional detecitves on Huffington post, could you repost it on THIS BLOG? Excuse typos, i am legally blind

My Favourite Fictional Detectives

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