Best / favorite detective / investigator in a mystery book / series ?
#1
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Without a doubt, my favorite is Harry Bosch in the books by Michael Connelly.
A close second is Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta, although her last 2 books lack the intensity/suspense of the past novels.
Bringing up 3rd is Repairman Jack in the F. Paul Wilson books. Although his Repairman Jack character seems to investigate more towards the paranormal, his character is very slick.
-Steve
A close second is Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta, although her last 2 books lack the intensity/suspense of the past novels.
Bringing up 3rd is Repairman Jack in the F. Paul Wilson books. Although his Repairman Jack character seems to investigate more towards the paranormal, his character is very slick.
-Steve
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Well of course Harry Bosch!
I also like Terry McCaleb from Blood Work and Darkness....
I'm not a Kay Scarpetta fan. Don't know why. I like the writing, but not the character.
I like Jack Reacher from the Lee Child books, although he's not really an investigator per say.
Also, Lou Boldt from the Ridley Pearson books is good.
I also like Terry McCaleb from Blood Work and Darkness....
I'm not a Kay Scarpetta fan. Don't know why. I like the writing, but not the character.
I like Jack Reacher from the Lee Child books, although he's not really an investigator per say.
Also, Lou Boldt from the Ridley Pearson books is good.
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I've not read many books with recurring investigative characters, but I have to say that I really kinda dig Kinsey Milhone from the Alphabet series by Sue Grafton. They're really pretty cool to listen to while driving, too.
robyn
robyn
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I hate to mention this novel so much in this forum, but I just can't help myself. My favorite would be Lionel Essrog in Jonathan Lethem's Motherless Brooklyn. He's a Tourettic detective's assistant who is trying to solve the murder of his boss. It must be read to understand what a great character he is.
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Lucas Davenportin John Sanford's books
Mark Beamon in Kyle Mill's books
Alex Cross isn't too bad in Patterson's novels
Edited to add Stone Barrington from Stuart Woods
Mark Beamon in Kyle Mill's books
Alex Cross isn't too bad in Patterson's novels
Edited to add Stone Barrington from Stuart Woods
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Originally posted by BoatDrinks
Well of course Harry Bosch!
I also like Terry McCaleb from Blood Work and Darkness....
I'm not a Kay Scarpetta fan. Don't know why. I like the writing, but not the character.
I like Jack Reacher from the Lee Child books, although he's not really an investigator per say.
Also, Lou Boldt from the Ridley Pearson books is good.
Well of course Harry Bosch!
I also like Terry McCaleb from Blood Work and Darkness....
I'm not a Kay Scarpetta fan. Don't know why. I like the writing, but not the character.
I like Jack Reacher from the Lee Child books, although he's not really an investigator per say.
Also, Lou Boldt from the Ridley Pearson books is good.
I've never read Lee Child, but what you said about Jack Reacher peaked my curiousity. What do you mean "he's not really an investigator per say." ? Or is it something where I would have to read one of the books to find out what you mean?
-Steve
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Encyclopedia Brown
Sherlock Holmes
Sam Spade
Phillip Marlowe
Haven't really read much, if any, more modern type stuff.
[Edited by Scarecrow on 04-29-01 at 09:42 PM]
Sherlock Holmes
Sam Spade
Phillip Marlowe
Haven't really read much, if any, more modern type stuff.
[Edited by Scarecrow on 04-29-01 at 09:42 PM]
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A tossup between these two
Liam Rhenford in a series of fantasy books by Daniel Hood:
- Fanuilh
- Scales of Justice
- King's Cure
- A Familiar Dragon - trade edition
#11
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The Late Inspector Morse from the Collin Dexter novels
Lucas Davenport from the Prey novels
Lord Peter Wimsey from the Dorothy L Sayers novels
Hercule Poirot from the Agatha Christie novels
and of course Sherlock Holmes from the Doyle novels
Lucas Davenport from the Prey novels
Lord Peter Wimsey from the Dorothy L Sayers novels
Hercule Poirot from the Agatha Christie novels
and of course Sherlock Holmes from the Doyle novels
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Originally posted by BoatDrinks
I like Jack Reacher from the Lee Child books, although he's not really an investigator per say.
I like Jack Reacher from the Lee Child books, although he's not really an investigator per say.
Why has no one mentioned Elvis Cole and Joe Pike from Robert Crais' novels or Archy McNally from Lawrence Sanders?
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Originally posted by tictacboy
I've never read Lee Child, but what you said about Jack Reacher peaked my curiousity. What do you mean "he's not really an investigator per say." ? Or is it something where I would have to read one of the books to find out what you mean?
-Steve
I've never read Lee Child, but what you said about Jack Reacher peaked my curiousity. What do you mean "he's not really an investigator per say." ? Or is it something where I would have to read one of the books to find out what you mean?
-Steve
Check out KILLING FLOOR by Child.
Here it is at Amazon, but MODS, can you make this a DVDTalk link, please?
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...123447/dvdtalk
Reacher is this former military guy who is just happens to always find trouble, and then has to figure out "what really happened." He's very smart, and without a doubt, the toughest SOB I've read in a long time.
[Edited by gkleinman on 05-01-01 at 12:06 PM]
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Cole & Pike / Reacher
Originally posted by Zoomer
I'm reading my first Jack Reacher book, Die Trying right now. So far, it's very good.
Why has no one mentioned Elvis Cole and Joe Pike from Robert Crais' novels or Archy McNally from Lawrence Sanders?
Originally posted by BoatDrinks
I like Jack Reacher from the Lee Child books, although he's not really an investigator per say.
I like Jack Reacher from the Lee Child books, although he's not really an investigator per say.
Why has no one mentioned Elvis Cole and Joe Pike from Robert Crais' novels or Archy McNally from Lawrence Sanders?
Obviously (or not) Spenser & Hawk. - previously mentioned.
Harry Bosch used to be brilliant but I think he's taken a downturn since Angels Flight.
And let's throw in Stephanie Plum out of Janet Evanovichs series.
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Re: Cole & Pike / Reacher
Originally posted by Pmartyn
Harry Bosch used to be brilliant but I think he's taken a downturn since Angels Flight.
Harry Bosch used to be brilliant but I think he's taken a downturn since Angels Flight.
Bosch was in "Darkness...," but that was a Terry McCaleb novel.
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Alex Cross is great. Whats her butt Scarpeta is good. Although, Scarpeta is a little too good. Can she possibly be more un-real than she is? Lets tone her down a bit.
I like the Kinsey Millhone series. She is a "lite" read. I wish she was a bit more tougher. I have been reading her series since A is for Alibi.
rayman
I like the Kinsey Millhone series. She is a "lite" read. I wish she was a bit more tougher. I have been reading her series since A is for Alibi.
rayman
#23
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Re: Re: Cole & Pike / Reacher
Originally posted by BoatDrinks
Actually, there hasn't been a Bosch novel since Angel's Flight.
Bosch was in "Darkness...," but that was a Terry McCaleb novel.
Originally posted by Pmartyn
Harry Bosch used to be brilliant but I think he's taken a downturn since Angels Flight.
Harry Bosch used to be brilliant but I think he's taken a downturn since Angels Flight.
Bosch was in "Darkness...," but that was a Terry McCaleb novel.
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Originally posted by 12thmonkey
how about Andrew Vachss's anti-hero Burke?
Dark, dark, dark hard-boiled stuff.
how about Andrew Vachss's anti-hero Burke?
Dark, dark, dark hard-boiled stuff.
With people saying this :
"Burke would eat Spade and Marlowe for breakfast, not even spitting out the bones. [He] is one tough, mean, pray-god-you-don't-meet-him...hombre." -- Boston Herald
Burke is my obvious choice
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Detective/Mystery series investigators - who's the best?
I don't think there's a character around better for a battle than Lee Child's Jack Reacher, but what about the best all-around investigator?
If you had a crime that absolutely HAD to be solved, who would you want on the case?
Bosch?
Davenport?
Scarpetta?
Archer?
Cross?
twikoff?
Of all the series investigators, who do you think is the best?
If you had a crime that absolutely HAD to be solved, who would you want on the case?
Bosch?
Davenport?
Scarpetta?
Archer?
Cross?
twikoff?
Of all the series investigators, who do you think is the best?