Created by Victoria Thompson Although FRANK MALLOY has been a central figure in Victoria Thompson's long-running and bestselling "Gaslight Mystery" series since Book One (1999's Murder on Astor Place), it wasn't until the nineteenth book in the series, Murder in Morningside Heights (2016) that he becomes a "confidential inquirer". That's the book where the former … Continue reading Frank Malloy
Tag: Married to It!
Jim Bennett
Created by Robert Martin Pseudonyms include Lee Roberts (1908-1976) Cleveland, Ohio's own JIM BENNETT was a rarity in detective fiction in the fifties — a happily-married man. Thomas Dewey, Bart Spicer and James M. Fox are about the only other writers of this period that seemed to stray from the whole lone wolf/P.I. thing. The … Continue reading Jim Bennett
Married to It!
Hitched! Detecting Couples... 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 occasionally be … Continue reading Married to It!
Nick & Sue Burney
Created by Edward Churchill Pseudonym of 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" … Continue reading Nick & Sue Burney
Brock “The Rock” Callahan
Created by William Campbell Gault Pseudonyms include Roney Scott, Will Duke, Bill Gault, David Crewe & Ray P. Shotwell (1910-1995) "Well, what had I brought to this trade? Three years in the O.S.S. and my memories of a cop father. Along with a nodding acquaintanceship with maybe fifty lads in the [Los Angeles Police] Department. … Continue reading Brock “The Rock” Callahan
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
Jennifer Mays & Gabriel Webb (The Maze Agency)
Created by Mike W. Barr One of the longer-running P.I. comic books was The Maze Agency, which ran for twenty-three issues in the early nineties, plus several specials, one-shots, and the like, making it arguably the second-longest running English-language P.I. series, after Ms. Tree. The stories tended to the more traditional Golden Age mystery, particularly … Continue reading Jennifer Mays & Gabriel Webb (The Maze Agency)
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
Maddie Hayes & David Addison (Moonlighting)
Created by Glenn Caron Gordon Maddie: Wipe that stupid grin off your face. David: This is the smartest grin I know. Moonlighting is the TV show many of us now officially claim to hate, but once upon a time, it sure was a lotta fun. This is the television series that brought screwball romantic comedy … Continue reading Maddie Hayes & David Addison (Moonlighting)
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