Created by Robert Venditti and David Lapham "Just because pizza is round doesn't mean you can cut corners." HANK HOWARD isn't a man you meet every day. No matter how you slice it. Sure, he's a private eye, a hard-boiled and slightly rumpled doofus right out of central casting, complete with the obligatory fedora and … Continue reading Hank Howard (Pizza Detective)
Category: Criminal
“Digger” McCrae (Gravedigger)
Created by Christopher Mills & Rick Burchett "I'm a detail man. Figuring angles, covering bases -- that's what I do." — Digger gives us the facts, ma'am, just the facts. "DIGGER" McCRAE, aka "GRAVEDIGGER," is a professional thief, with the emphasis on professional. If there's one thing he can't abide, it's amateurs, in a great … Continue reading “Digger” McCrae (Gravedigger)
Jean Pearson
Created by Lori Stone Letters, we get letters... So, years ago, I received this. I've no idea who "Big Bill" was. Possible it was Lori Stone's husband, or her best friend or her agent or her publisher or maybe even Lori herself: Dear Mr. Smith, Rumour, which may or may not speak with false tongue, … Continue reading Jean Pearson
Charlie “The Hook” Swift
Created by Victor Gischler CHARLIE "THE HOOK" SWIFT was one of the hard-boiled kinda guys in a promising new series of stories back when this site started. Written by one of fellow upstarts in those heady times, Â Victor Gischler's first story featuring Charlie, "Hitting Rufus," was selected by Otto Penzler for his Best American Mystery … Continue reading Charlie “The Hook” Swift
Fergus O’Breen
Created by Anthony Boucher Pseudonym of William A. P. White Other pseudonyms include Theo Durrant, Herman W. Mudgett & H. H. Holmes (1911-68) It's hard to believe that a guy with a monicker like FERGUS O'BREEN is Irish, but IT'S TRUE!!! I know. I'm as shocked as you are. He's also one of the most … Continue reading Fergus O’Breen
Mike Ehrmantraut (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul)
Created by Peter Gould and Vince Gilligan "Shut the fuck up, and let me die in peace." —Mike in the final season of Breaking Bad Yeah, yeah. I know. Neither AMC's acclaimed Breaking Bad (2008-13), nor its subsequent spinoff/prequel Better Call Saul (2015-22) is a private eye show. But a private eye character proves to be … Continue reading Mike Ehrmantraut (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul)
“The Kid” (City Streets)
Created by Dashiell Hammett (1894-1961) The almost forgotten City Streets (Paramount, 1931) was one of the few Dashiell Hammett stories written expressly to be adapted to film (a couple of Thin Man films were also in that group), and as such probably deserves our attention, even if it isn’t a private eye tale. I've no … Continue reading “The Kid” (City Streets)
The Lone Wolf (Michael Lanyard)
Created by Louis Joseph Vance (1879-1933) Louis Joseph Vance's MICHAEL LANYARD, better known as THE LONE WOLF, didn't start out as a private eye, but as a criminal. However, like Jack Boyle's Boston Blackie, thanks to his numerous reboots, reincarnations and re-imaginings in radio, film and television, The Lone Wolf is now remembered by many, … Continue reading The Lone Wolf (Michael Lanyard)
Albert Parkis (The End of the Affair)
Created by Graham Greene Definitely not a private eye tale, or even a mystery, really (at least in the traditional sense), but Graham Greene’s 1951 novel, The End of the Affair does feature private investigator ALBERT PARKIS of the Savage Detective Agency in a pivotal, if secondary, role. In London, as World War II rages and the bombs … Continue reading Albert Parkis (The End of the Affair)
Zelmont Raines
Created by Gary Phillips As The Jook (1999), Gary Phillips' non-series stand alone, kicks off, ZELMONT RAINES, an African American All-Pro receiver with a string of endorsement deals, is left wondering where it all went. The man who once scored the winning touchdown in the Super Bowl has a blown knee and a weakness for … Continue reading Zelmont Raines