Reading stories about many famous detectives solving crimes is a pleasure. An amazing story can make your day and even fuel your brain. When you read a detective story, your imagination will be filled with many things. As these characters gained popularity, and in some cases, had separate followers, several adaptations were introduced as the best fictional detectives. So here we have narrowed down the top 10 famous fictional detectives, just for you!!
10 Famous Fictional Detectives
Some fictional characters from books and movies are famous all over the world. Let’s take a look at them!
1. Sherlock Holmes
Who were the fictional detective duos?
- A. Lt. Frank Columbo
- B. Hercule Poirot
- C. Miss Marple
- D. The Hardy Boys
Sherlock Holmes is considered one of the most perfect fictional detectives. He is also one of the oldest fictional characters to still rule the entertainment industry. The character has his movies, television shows, and of course, books. Holmes solved many crimes using his deductions showing off his massive talent in the entire process. This makes him one of the most famous fictional detective characters in the world.
2. Nancy Drew
In the 1930s, when female characters were not given proper importance, Edward Stratemeyer created a female detective as a counterpart to his previous work, Hardy Boys, and named and introduced the very genius detective, Nancy Drew. She is one of the most famous fictional detectives to date and has solved over 500 cases in her entire career.
3. Tintin
Tintin is a cartoon character, with over 13 books He is an intrepid young investigative reporter and a massive adaptation in movies by Steven Spielberg. Tintin is also one of the most famous fictional detectives among fans. His sharp wit and talent for deduction, and his adorable little partner, Snowy (Milou in the original French), make Tintin a beloved character among kids and even adults.
4. The Hardy Boys
Frank and Joe Hardy, the fictional detective duo, are some of the most famous characters in mystery novels. The teen brothers solve some daringly mysterious cases with their amateur, raw talent and are constantly dragged into adventures and action.
5. Miss Marple
If you like Agatha Christie’s work, then you cannot deny the fact that you adore Miss Marple. She appeared in 12 novels and 20 short stories. Jane Marple is an elderly spinster who enjoys solving mysteries in her free time as it has become her hobby. This character has captured the hearts of many fans with her brilliant detective skills and other notable characteristics.
6. Veronica Mars
Can you imagine a girl in high school is a spade-style detective? That was the premise of the detective Veronica Mars. Kristen Bell started as a teenager trying to shine some light on the dark elements of her native Neptune, California. And also she was the young detective to be known.
7. Jessica Jones
Jessica Jones is a hard-drinking private eye, but there’s something that makes her stand independent and self-confident. She is meant to be a superhero. Jessica Jones has super strength and she has been a Marvel character for almost 20 years, but she came into notoriety when Krysten Ritter played her on a Netflix show.
8. Philip Marlowe
Marlowe has played a few iconic roles, including Humphery Bograt, Robert Mitchum, and Elliot Gould. He is the quintessential hard boiled Los Angeles private eye. Chandler wrote several Marlowe stories, including “The Big Sleep” and “The Long Goodbye.” This fictional character is a Private Investigator who solves crimes as if it were just a mere game of chess, and his personality only fuels readers to know more about him!
9. Hercule Poirot
Hercule Poirot is a retired Belgian police officer with instinctual talent and intelligence. Appearing in over 33 novels and more than 50 short stories, Hercule Poirot is one of the longest-running characters in Agatha Christie’s world.
10. Lt. Frank Columbo
As the fans of Lt. Frank Columbo know the common deduction methods of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot, it will be a surprise for them when they see what Lt. Frank Columbo does. Detective Columbo outsmarts the criminals by playing dumb, which is indeed a smart move as a detective.
Hope you now know about some of the famous fictional detectives! Refresh your memory on these detectives by answering the Quiz on this page.