Created by Carlton E. Morse (1901-93) "No job too tough, no mystery too baffling." — The Triple A-1 Detective Agency Motto AN EXTREMELY popular radio show in there 1940s, I Love Mystery followed the adventures of three men who met while fighting with the Chinese against the Japanese in World War II. Upon their return … Continue reading Jack Packard, Doc Long & Reggie York (I Love a Mystery)
Tag: Detective Agency
The Inklings Detective Agency
Created by John R. Kelly Pass. Okay, it was a brazen enough gimmick roping in Chandler, Hammett, Erle Stanley Gardner, Raoul Whitfield and various other torch carriers of the Shamus Game as amateur or even professional sleuths, and the results were generally, hit or miss. Now Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, C.S. Lewis and J.R. Tolkien … Continue reading The Inklings Detective Agency
Oke Oakley and Secrets. Inc.
Created by Frederick C. Davis Pseudonyms include Clark Aiken, Garry Grant & Stephen Ransome (1902-77) Just in case anyone thought Joe Gores was the first to relate the adventures of a large, fictional detective agency with his justifiably acclaimed Dan Kearney & Associates series, they ought to check out pulpster Frederick C. Davis' tales of … Continue reading Oke Oakley and Secrets. Inc.
Connor Sullivan, James Devlin & Cal Burke (Phoenix Inc.)
Created by Irene Hannon "Justice First" — the agency's motto CONNOR SULLIVAN, JAMES "DEV" DEVLIN and CAL BURKE are three former law enforcement officers (Secret Service, homicide cop and ATF, respectively) who now run their very own classy little St. Louis detective agency called Phoenix Inc. They each get a chance to shine in one … Continue reading Connor Sullivan, James Devlin & Cal Burke (Phoenix Inc.)
Mitsuko Hoshino (My Dear Detective)
Created by Natsumi Ito My Dear Detective (subtitle: "Mitsuko's Case Files"), the manga series featuring Japan's first female private eye, MITSUKO "MIMI" HOSHINO, is a far cry from the more hard-boiled, violent manga and anime antics of, say, City Hunter or Cowboy Bebop. In fact, the concept here is more often described as "light-hearted," "sweet" … Continue reading Mitsuko Hoshino (My Dear Detective)
Jonah Kendrick & Max Summerlin
Created by Mindy Meija It took a couple of books, but by the third in the series, The Whisper Place (2025), ex-cop MAX SUMMERLIN and his psychic best bud JONAH KENDRICK are both officially private detectives, opening up Celina Investigations in Iowa City. Yeah, you'd think being a psychic (or having one as your partner) … Continue reading Jonah Kendrick & Max Summerlin
Maggie Laurent & Nick Moore (Fog City)
Created by Claire M. Johnson "I've discovered in the detective game that there are lies and there are lies." — Maggie in City Lights. I find the covers pretty dreary (AI? The author herself?), but like Bo Diddley says, "You can't judge a book by its cover." And Bo knows... NICK MOORE is the head … Continue reading Maggie Laurent & Nick Moore (Fog City)
All Together Now
P.I. Ensembles Ever since Ed McBain's 87th Precinct made its debut back in 1956, many have wondered when someone would apply the same formula to the private eye genre. Oh, to be sure, there have been plenty of detectives working for large agencies. Everyone from Hammett's Continental Op to Joe Mannix (at least for one … Continue reading All Together Now
Frank Cisco, Steve Wegman et al (Total Security)
Created by Steven Bochco, David Milch, Charles H. Eglee & Theresa Rebeck Yet another attempt to revive the private eye genre, ABC's 1997 Total Security focussed on the escapades of a serious, by-the-book brooding former cop, FRANK CISCO (played with tight-lipped intensity by Terminator's James Remar) with a small, fledgling private security firm who reluctantly … Continue reading Frank Cisco, Steve Wegman et al (Total Security)
Sam Hunter (Hunted)
Created by Frank Spotnitz (1960--) Award-winning writer and producer Frank Spotnitz (one of the headwaiters for The X-Files) was behind this eight-part suspense thriller from 2012 that I just stumbled across, more than a decade later. with an international espionage story line. Melissa George starred as SAM HUNTER, a kick-ass (and gorgeous) operative for Byzantium, … Continue reading Sam Hunter (Hunted)