We all love reading detective stories, and while reading them, we fall in love with the detective characters. They become part of our growing up and our life as we continue reading them, watching them and hearing them. So, let’s take a look into the 10 of the Iconic Fictitious Detective Characters.
10. Gideon Fell
Created by John Dickson Carr, Gideon Fell has appeared in 23 novels from 1933 through to 1967 as well as a few short stories. He is an amateur sleuth, frequently called upon by the police, whom he frustrates in the usual manner of most fictional detectives by refusing to reveal his deductions until he has arrived at a complete solution to the problem.
9. Cordelia Gray
Created by P.D.James, Cordelia Gray is a private detective in London. She first appeared in 1972 in the novel An Unsuitable Job for a Woman. Her final appearance has been in 1982 in the novel The Skull Beneath the Skin. She inherited the detective agency “Pryde” on the death of her boss.
8. Jules Maigret
Created by Georges Simenon, Jules Maigret is a French fictional police detective. He has appeared in 75 novels and 28 short stories. The novels in which he has appeared are Pietr-le-Letton, Le Charretier de la Providence, M. Gallet décédé, Le Pendu de Saint-Pholien, Le Pendu de Saint-Pholien, among others.
7. Miss Marple
Created by Agatha Christie, Miss Marple first appeared in the year 1926 in the magazine ‘The Sketch’. She has so far appeared in 12 crime novels and 20 short stories. She is an elderly spinster and a consulting detective. Miss Marple solves difficult crimes because of her shrewd intelligence, and over her lifetime, has given her seemingly infinite examples of the negative side of human nature. She also has a remarkable ability to latch onto a casual comment and connect it to the case at hand. The novels in which she has appeared are – The Murder at the Vicarage, Nemesis, The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side, A Pocket Full of Rye, A Murder is Announced, among others.
6. Nancy Drew
Having first appeared in the year 1930, Nancy Drew, created by Edward Stratemeyer, Nancy Drew is one of the most recognisable fictitious detective characters around the world. Over the decades the character has evolved in response to changes in US culture and tastes. She is a fictional amateur sleuth. Her two accomplices are George Fayne and Bess Marvin, and occasionally by boyfriend Ned Nickerson. She is considered to be a mythic hero. She has been featured in five films, two television shows and a number of video games.
5. Byomkesh Baksi
Created by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay, he is one of the most intriguing detective characters ever, having appeared in thirty two stories, ten movies, five television series and in many radio plays. He has appeared in Makorshar Rosh, Adwitiyo, Chholonar Chhondo, Banhi-patanga, Benishonghar, Lohar Biskut, Bishupal Bodh, Adim Ripu, Shailo Rahasya, Rokter Daag, etc..
4. Hercule Poirot
Hercule Poirot is a fictional Belgian detective, created by Agatha Christie. Poirot is one of Christie’s most famous and long-lived characters, appearing in 33 novels, one play (Black Coffee), and more than 50 short stories. He operates as a fairly conventional, clue-based and logical detective. He also has been part of the popular culture and has been portrayed in various films and TV shows.
3. Feluda
A fictional private investigator, Feluda, created by Satyajit Ray, first appeared in the year 1970. Feluda is most of the times accompanied by his cousin Tapesh (affectionately called Topshe by Feluda), who serves as the narrator of the stories. From the sixth story, Sonar Kella (The Golden Fortress), the duo are joined by a popular thriller writer Jatayu (Lalmohon Ganguli). His character is said to have been inspired from Sherlock Holmes. His full name is Prodosh Chandra Mitra. He has been featured in many novels, TV series and films. Despite being a strongly built man adept in martial arts, Feluda relies mostly upon his superb analytical ability and observation skill (jokingly referred to as the Magajastra or brain-weapon) to solve cases instead of using physical strength or weapons.
2. Professor Shonku
Created by Satyajit ray, Professor Shonku is a fictional scientist who has been featured in a number of detective/science fiction novels. He is known for his ability to speak 69 languages. His full name is Trilokeshwar Shonku, and by occupation, he is an inventor. Professor Shonku had many adventures, in both real and fantastical places, some with historical leanings and some with great revelations connected to human civilisation. Comics, radio plays have been made from his work. A film is also on the pipeline which will feature the Professor.
1. Sherlock Holmes
Created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes is by far the most well know fictitious detective in the world. He first appeared in 1887 and has been featured in four novels and 56 short stories. Holmes is known for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to adopt almost any disguise and his use of forensic science to solve difficult cases. He has also been featured in a number of TV series, stage plays and films.