Created by James C. Mitchell Years before Trump's ICE Capades came along and gave immigration enforcement a really bad rep, we had Tucson-based gumshoe ROSCOE BRINKER, a former INS agent, as the stand-up hero in a series of books by James Mitchell. Considered a star in the making at the time, Roscoe was an appealing … Continue reading Roscoe Brinker
Category: The Dick of the Day
Wildclown
Created by G. Wells Taylor Who is this bozo? WILDCLOWN sure ain't your granddad's private eye. Sure, he's suitably tough, suitably cynical, and suitably partial to a good swig of Canadian Club now and then. aren't they all? But this dude lives and works in Greasetown, a hellhole where, following "The Change," the living never … Continue reading Wildclown
Lindsay Fox & Nathan Fisher (The Fox & Fisher Detective Agency)
Created by C.J. Carmichael This romance series (part of Harlequin's Super Romance line) revolves around the Manhattan-based Fox & Fisher Detective Agency, and the never-ending search for love among its various employees, up to and including its receptionist. The agency was founded by former NYPD detective LINDSAY FOX after she left the department, largely due … Continue reading Lindsay Fox & Nathan Fisher (The Fox & Fisher Detective Agency)
Jayk (Cyberpunk 2077)
Created by Jordan Thomas & Nicola Izzo Original Cyberpunk game created by Mike Pondsmith JAYK, a private eye character spun off from the best-selling videogame Cyberpunk 2077 gets a chance to strut his stuff in a four-issue miniseries from Dark Horse Comics, Cyberpunk 2077: Jayk's Case. In the uncomfortably near future, Jayk's hired to investigate … Continue reading Jayk (Cyberpunk 2077)
Frank Clemons
Created by Thomas H. Cook (1947 --) You want it darker? More a long novel spat out in parts than a series, these three books by Thomas H. Cook featuring FRANK CLEMONS form one of the truly classic P.I. hat tricks of all time. Too bad, then, that within a few years, these dark, … Continue reading Frank Clemons
Rick Vanner
Created by M.V. Heberden Pseudonyms include Charles L. Leonard (1906-65) "There are very few moments when the truth is a good idea." — Rick Vanner Female author Mary Violet Heberden, hiding behind her initials, was one of the few women mentioned in mystery critic James Sandoe's oft-reprinted and anthologized personal checklist of favorite Hard-boiled Dicks. … Continue reading Rick Vanner
Gina Cototi
Created by Lawrence Kelter GINA MARIE COTOTI is, according to the author (or at least his publisher) a "feisty Sicilian sparkplug, a Brooklyn-based private eye with a fondness for family, friends, and one roguishly handsome Casanova named Rocco Benelli. Hey, nobody's perfect." If it already sounds like we're edging into Evanovich territory, you're not just … Continue reading Gina Cototi
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)
Zoe Busiek (Wild Card)
Created by Lynn Latham and Bernard Lechowick "Nobody's ever accused me of being an adult before." -- Zoe reveals she’s no SuperMomThe American TV channel Lifetime isn’t exactly known for its hard-boiled fare, but they did make it a watered-down go back in 2003, when they premiered Wild Card, folding some occasionally gritty and often … Continue reading Zoe Busiek (Wild Card)
Hack Bohannon
Created by Joseph Hansen Pseudonyms include include Rose Brock & James Colton (1923-2004) Tall, lean, with a "shock of Indian-black hair," usually clad in jeans, cowboy boots and a plaid shirt, HACK BOHANNON looks more like a cowboy than a private detective. And, if he had his druthers, that's probably the way he'd prefer it. … Continue reading Hack Bohannon