Created by James R. Langham (1912-99) Yet another detecting couple, apparently married to it, SAMMY and ETHEL ABBOTT appeared in two clever, lightly humorous, noir-tinged novels, Sing a Song of Homicide (1940) and A Pocketful of Clues (1941). Sammy was a special investigator for the Santa Monica DA — a quasi-legal private eye who carries … Continue reading Sammy & Ethel Abbott
Tag: Married Couples
Carole Trevor (The Old Towne Detective Agency)
Created by Judson P. Philips Other peuedonyms include Philip Owen, Hugh Pentecost (1903 – 1989) Feisty, headstrong socialite CAROLE TREVOR runs the Old Towne Detective Agency, given to her by her goofy but affable man-about-town ex-husband, wealthy New York socialite Maxwell Blythe. It was a parting gift after their divorce that he fully expected her to sell off—he gave … Continue reading Carole Trevor (The Old Towne Detective Agency)
Pete & Jeanne Schofield
Created by Thomas B. Dewey Pseudonyms include Tom Brandt and Cord Wainer (1915-81) The thing about San Fernando Valley post-war private eye PETE SCHOFIELD and his "beautiful little redhead" wife JEANNE is that they're married--happily! Well, more or less. Trust me, in private detective fiction, particularly for those times, there weren't many happily married couples, … Continue reading Pete & Jeanne Schofield
Married to It!
Hitched! Married Eyes and Their Spouses... A few of these are true detecting duos with both spouses working as actual private eyes, but many have the wife reduced to the role of amateur sleuth, and even more disappointedly, many of them are further reduced to the role of "the little woman," there simply as someone to … Continue reading Married to It!
Nick & Sue Burney
Created by Edward Churchill Pseudonym o Edward C. Off (1902-1960) The Rock City correspondent for the Las Verdes Sentinel, tall thin NICK BURNEY has an"unruly mop of black hair," a beat-up but reliable Ford pick-up, and a habit of drinking and driving. He also has a wife, SUE BURNEY, an outdoorsy type who's "slim and boyish" with … Continue reading Nick & Sue Burney
Sabrina & Hilton Shire
Created by E.D. Bird A self-published novel by Elaine D. Bird, a Scottish writer living in Zimbabwe, Goldenviron: The First Encounter (2011) follows private investigator SABRINA SHIRE, who's hired a woman to find out who murdered her husband Ben Curl, apparently the only shareholder in a giant mining company, Goldenviron, in an apparently-unnamed African nation. The story kicks in with Sabrina … Continue reading Sabrina & Hilton Shire
Nick and Nora Charles
Created by Dashiell Hammett (1894-1961) Nora: "I read where you were shot five times in the tabloids." Nick: "Not true. He didn't come anywhere near my tabloids." -- from The Thin Man (1934 film) The glitzy adventures of Dashiell Hammett's retired private eye NICK CHARLES and his rich, beautiful (and not quite as ditzy as … Continue reading Nick and Nora Charles
Gail and Dwight “Di” Berke
Created by Carl G. Hodges (1902-64) Sports editor of The Journal, DWIGHT "DI" BERKE could always be counted on to dig into the crimonious aspects of sports, be it horse racing, bowling or whatever. Fortunately his wife (and photog for the same rag) GAIL BERKE, armed with "her four-by-five Grafix slung over her tailored shoulder," … Continue reading Gail and Dwight “Di” Berke
Jake & Hildy Pace
Created by Ron Goulart (1933--) Private eyes pop up in the myriad universes of science fiction from time to time, and Ron Goulart has been responsible for quite a few of them; the husband-and-wife team of JAKE and HILDY PACE are probably the most enduring and memorable among his lazgun-packing ops. Take the sharp wit and … Continue reading Jake & Hildy Pace
Donald Langham & Marie Dupré
Created by Eric Brown DONALD LANGHAM is a struggling midlist mystery writer turned (initially reluctant) private investigator in 1950s England, slowly drifting through middle age. He's often accompanied by the beautiful and resourceful (and infinitely more spirited) literary agent Maria Dupré (later his wife) on his adventures, in this well-paced, cozyish series by sci-fi writer … Continue reading Donald Langham & Marie Dupré