YOUR FAVORITE SLEUTH: A SURVEY

NOTE: Elaine usually writes on Wednesdays but since she's enjoying a well-deserved break, we here at TLC thought we'd pose the unanswerable question: Who's the best sleuth?

Hercule Poirot, Sherlock Holmes, Nancy Drew, Horace Rumpole, Philip Marlowe, Kinsey Milhone, Miss Marple, Spenser, Stephanie Plum, Amelia Peabody, Nora Blackbird, Melanie Vargas, Wollie Shelley, Helen Hawthorne, Josie Marcus and Bubbles Yablonsky. Just to name a few.

The personalities of sleuths, who they are, what they like and dislike and how they dress, have become as important - if not more important - than the plots they uncover. Some sleuths time travel. Some morph or forget things. (Or act as if they forget things.) They are socialites, detectives, professional shoppers, archaeologists, greeting card designers, hair dressers, FBI agents and, sometimes when we're lucky, delightfully meddlesome old ladies. All of them ask too many questions and eventually piss off the wrong folk.

The question is, who is your favorite sleuth and why? Also, how did you come across him or her?

Me? I hold a deep fondness for Kinsey Milhone because she paved the way for women sleuths who could be funny and smart and clueless when it came to fashion. Also, I love Spenser because he's just so reliable, so confident. All in a day's work.

Got a pet sleuth? Let us know. We'll take a vote at the end to see who is the overall, hands down, classic winner.

Comments

[Lynn]

So where is Jessica Fletcher, or Columbo? Her in everything and him so apparently bumbling?

[SarahS]

Oh, no....You don't have to be limited to the list. Please, please, add your own names!

[Kathy Reschini Sweeney]

For sheer dumb luck and comedic timing, Maddie Hayes and David Addison of Moonlighting.

For brain power and attention to detail, I'm going with Holmes and Watson.

[Susan]

I'll second Maddie and David. Loved that show. And I think the shoulder pads gave Maddie super sleuth powers.

[Joyce Tremel]

This is a tough one. I don't think I can narrow it down to one. How about three?
Kinsey Millhone, Sharon McCone and Anna Pigeon.

[ramona]

What fun! Out of a sense of fairness, I am eliminating all of the sleuths written by TLC writers and, of course, Blond Bond, because he can out-sleuth anyone, anytime, anyplace, wearing anything--or, preferably, nothing.

So, that leaves--Ceepak and Danny! I have major, major love for Chris Grabenstein's duo. Long live The Code.

First runner up, Mulder and Scully.

[Liz Clifford]

Fletch is still one of my favorites. Sexy, intelligent, endearing, bumbling, and a pain in the ass. Just what I look for in a man.

[HollyD]

Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. They're partners who always have each other's back and are just sexy as Hell. If I were in trouble I would want them. Thanks Robert Crais.

[peach]

I agree with Joyce's three choices and add William Monk, Amelia Peabody, China Bayles, Arly Hanks, Marcus Didius Falco, Mme Precious Ramotse, VI Warchaski, Joanna Brady and Brother Cadfael. As you can see I just can't choose. I suppose you could call these and Joyce's choices my top 12 list.

[Wendy]

Definitely Elvis Cole and Joe Pike, for all the reasons Holly mentioned. Clare Westbrook from Linda Lael Miller's Look trilogy - the tenacity of a pit bull. And Nancy's Nora Blackbird for always remaining a lady and looking fabulous as she solves the mystery (and I love her house, lol).

What a great question!

[William Simon]

Travis McGee is still the King.

Sherlock Holmes is kind of a "gimme", but has to be included.

Robert DeClercq of the "Special X" novels by Canadian author Michael Slade. Educated, patient, cultured, and a brilliant detective, DeClercq has actually lost a case or two.

Nick and Nora Charles. Jerry and Pamela North. John Steed and (Mrs.) Emma Peel. Jonathan and Jennifer Hart. Remington Steele and Laura Holt. Madolyn Hayes and David Addison. Hmmm...I see a pattern there...:)

[beachfla]

Still love Poirot. Call me old-fashinoned. David Suchet played him brilliantly.
For those interested, just saw the MSN list of Best Dressed Men of the World for 2007. Blonde Bond made the list...

[ramona]

Forgot one: Ngaio Marsh's Inspector Alleyn. Oh, Roderick, baby.

[jody stuart]

What ? No Adrian Monk ? Am I the only OCD/anal-retentive in the group ?

[Katie]

Nancy Drew will always hold a place of honor since she was my first "favorite sleuth". But these days, I would have to say Kinsey Millhone and Tess Monaghan!

[Kerry, the Martial Tart]

In no particular order (and leaving out the Tarts' sleuths, in fairness): Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn for the way they look at life and how they work at the intersection of tradition, faith, and modernity. Mary Russell and Kate Martinelli for their independence, savvy, and insightfulness. Meg Lanslow for the quirky way she sees the world. Annie Kincaid (Hailey Lind's sleuth) because she always, but always, makes me laugh. William Monk for his willingness to push beyond his own boundaries and limits, and his wife Hester because she just rocks.

That'll do for now . . .

[Judy Larsen]

Well, I started out with The Bobbsey Twins and Encyclopedia Brown. I still sometimes remember how they solved a "crime".

But now, I gotta go with Travis McGee. Funny, sexy, and lived on a boat.

[Nancy Martin]

I'm currently reading Guido Brunetti, Venice's finest. He doesn't have Spenser's wisecracks, but he's pretty good!

[Mary Storyteller]

Having just read _Beekeeper's Apprentice_ I'll cast a vote for Mary Russell. I did love Suchet's Poirot, though, and the PBS version of Holmes as well. It is hard to choose even a short list, though -- we need all the clever, brave, and loyal problem-solvers we can find.

[Pam aka SisterZip]

Remington Steele & Laura Holt
Robert Wagner in It Takes A Thief
VI Warchaski
Kinsey Milhone
Kat Colorado
and
Nancy Drew, every girl's first sleuth.

[Cassie]

Dork alert! Star Trek's Next Generation gang is one of my favorite sleuthing teams -- I can't pick just one crew member, because I think they operate best as one unit (like the Sex and the City girls put together make up one whole person).

[Judy Larsen]

Oh, man, I can't believe I forgot Spenser. Witty, sexy, and a good cook. Toss him in too.

[Maryann Mercer]

If I can say Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell in the same breath...mainly because Mary, for all her youth, gave Holmes back as good as she got from him. Watson not so much. (I'm also a fan of Larry Millett's Holmes in America series). Second, but really close? Miss Jane Marple. The woman was deceptively innocent (I always thought Columbo was a modern day version...you underestimated him always) but so on the money about human nature it was eerie.
I'm a big fan of Monk as well, but have to include a third place vote for Dave Robicheaux and Cork O'Connor. They're just so human...and so well written.

[Harley]

Count me in for Travis McGee. With Elvis Cole and Joe Pike runners up. I like Jack Reacher a lot too.

And, of course, Nancy Drew and Harriet the Spy and every character Georgette Heyer ever wrote.

[Merrilee]

I have to go with Travis McGee as my favorite. Runners up lol. Elvis Cole/Joe Pike and certainly Jack Reacher.