As I was talking about mysteries recently, I couldn’t help but steal this question from Cathy over at Kittling Books:
Which crime fiction characters would you like to meet? Well, you know I follow quite a lot of mystery series so it’s actually a bit hard to narrow down to 10 characters but here it goes:
- Maisie Dobbs. I love that she’s smart and independent, and I’d just love to ride around in her little car solving mysteries in postwar England.
- Ursula Marlow. She reminds me a bit of Maisie actually but is very much her own character. She’s a business woman who doesn’t take kindly to the role Edwardian society expects her to play.
- Commissario Guido Brunetti. The Venetian detective doesn’t let crime wear him down. He is thoughtful and I’m sure he’d take me around to the best restaurants in Venice.
- Cyrus Barker & Thomas Llewelyn. The enquiry agent and his assistant are keeping Victorian England safe. After four books I’ve read, Barker is still a bit of a mystery so I’d like to ask him some questions.
- Mma Ramotswe. I can imagine sitting down with the owner of the detective agency, sipping some red bush tea and chatting about her life.
- Inspector Richard Jury. I think partly why I’d like to meet up with Jury is because I’d also be meeting all the great characters in the series, like Melrose Plant, Sergeant Wiggins and even the dreaded Lady Ardry.
- Faye Quick. I’ve only read one of the books in her series but she’s a bookworm and she’s a lady with a lot of moxie. I can see us going to one of her favorite bookstores and sharing book recommendations.
- Detective William Murdoch. Another Victorian setting but this time in Toronto. The serious detective is compassionate and intelligent.
- Sarah Brandt. This amateur sleuth is a midwife in turn of the century New York. Aside from liking her, I would just love to meet her to tell her she needs to throw caution to the wind and get together with that detective she’s always working with. Ha.
- Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. This inspector reminds me a bit of Brunetti. He’s kind, loves his family and seems like he’d be a great boss. Maybe I could become a sleuth for a day under his guidance.
I just realized that most of these are set in another century or outside of the States. Ah well, I do love to travel and I guess time-travel too. heh.
So, which crime fiction characters would you like to meet?
15 Comments
That’s a great question!
My answer: DI Rob Ryan (from Tana French’s books) and DI Jack Caffery (from Mo Hayder’s books)!! I’m sure there’re lots more but I could only think of these two at the moment, haha.
I’ve never heard of the Sarah Brandt mystery before, but it sounds like fun! I’d definitely want to meet Brunetti as well, especially since it would entail a trip to Venice. π I was only there for a day, and it definitely wasn’t long enough!
Other detectives I’d want to meet? Miss Marple, Mary Russell, Julien Kestrel, and Lord Wimsey and Harriet Vane.
That’s a hard question…I think I’d quite like to meet Kay Scarpetta.
Bernie Rhodenbar from the Burglar series, because he is a crack-up. Also Jack Reacher from the Lee Child series, as I believe he would be quite dude-ish!
After reading all of the ones you listed and the additions Eva suggests, I can only add Dalziel (Fat Andy) and Pascoe! Great post!
dare I say Alex Cross and Lindsay Boxer?
Melody – Rob would be great to know wouldn’t he? I’d ask him lots of stuff about the investigation! π
Eva – I think of those as a bit more cozy but really engaging. Yes, there is that bit about going to meet Brunetti! haha… You mention some other good ones to know!
Claire – Can you believe I’ve not read any Scarpetta books?!
Sandy – Haven’t read anything with those characters! I am taking names π
jenclair – I still need to read a Dalziel mystery! Actually, I did but it was short stories and I think I’d get a better sense of the mystery in a full-length book.
Serena – Haven’t read those either! Wow, I’m losing my mystery reader cred π
Just what I thought–I found many mentioned here that I could’ve put on my own list. Perhaps I follow too many mystery series?
I am afraid Richard Jury is the only one on your list I know π
I found you via CathyΓΒ΄s blog, and I have also made my own list which you can find here if you should like to.
http://djskrimiblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/10-krimi-helte-jeg-gerne-ville-mde.html (scroll down for English version).
Cathy – Ha, I know what you mean. I follow so many others too it was hard to narrow down the list. Well, actually there are some detectives I like a lot but don’t necessarily need to meet them π
Dorte H – Oh yay, looking forward to seeing your list! I’m sure I’ll find more to add to mine π
I’d love to meet Maisie Dobbs, and definitely Harriet Vane and Peter Wimsey — wouldn’t that be fun?
Oh, Precious Ramatswe for sure. I just love her. I think I would like to hang out in the office for a day.
I enjoyed reading this Cathy’s blog and now on yours! : )
I’d love to meet Maisie Dobbs,too. I’ve always thought Amelia Peabody would be great to meet as well–have you read any of Elizabeth Peters’s msyteries/ Lots of fun!
Dorothy W. – Can you just imagine? We’d share a big pot of tea, some scones and we’d be set π
Javajump – She’s such a nice lady isn’t she? I think seeing Bostwana from her perspective would be great!
Jenners – yay, glad you liked that. I thought Cathy did a great job with her list too π
danielle – You know, I’ve only read one of the Amelia Peabody books and meant to go back for more but you know how that goes. I need to revisit!