Created by Jess Loury This twelve-book series follows the romantic misadventures and investigations of Minnesota gal, sometime reporter and eventual private eye MIRA JAMES. Mira grew up in the Minnesota boonies of Paynesville but split as soon as she could for the bright lights of the Twin Cities and a BA in English. But for … Continue reading Mira James
Tag: Minnesota
Nathan Phillips
Created by Nick O'Donohoe (1952--) Minneapolis gumshoe NATHAN PHILLIPS grew up in Minnesota and attended the State University, but he didn't exactly set the world on fire. Eventually, after a series of odd jobs, he was hired as an assistant to private investigator ROY HARTLEY, a friend of Nate's dad. When Roy later died in … Continue reading Nathan Phillips
Ronni Brilliant (The Chimera Chronicles)
Created by Rob Jung Pseudonym of Robert Junghans Author Rob Jung collaborated with writer and activist Ellie Krug on his 2021 novel The Sower,  the second book in his Chimera Chronicles trilogy, in which he introduced transgender private eye VERONICA “RONNI” BRILLIANT. A post-op ex-Marine still struggling with her own sexuality, she and her colleagues at … Continue reading Ronni Brilliant (The Chimera Chronicles)
Vivian Marlow
Created by Lori Armstrong Pseudonyms include Lorelei James In 2023, it may seem a little odd to come across a short story  referring to private investigation as "No Place for a Dame,” since we’re not exactly bereft of female gumshoes these days, but since the story’s set in 1942, I guess we can cut it … Continue reading Vivian Marlow
Cash Blackbear
Created by Marcie R. Rendon She’s not a P.I… yet. For you Girl Detective fans who find Nancy Drew a little too, uh, white, may I suggest Murder on the Red River (2021), a knock-you-back debut which introduces RENÉE “CASH” BLACKBEAR, a moody, rebellious nineteen year-old Ojibwe pool hustler, truck driver and aged-out foster child with … Continue reading Cash Blackbear
Frankie Quinn (Francesca Quinn, P.I.)
Created by John Christian Plummer Even by Hallmark Movies & Mysteries standards, the first TV movie/episode of Francesca Quinn, P.I., which the Girl Detective and I watched the other Sunday night, was disappointing. We certainly weren’t expecting anything particularly hard-boiled, noir or even “gritty"—that’s not what Hallmark does. But they have managed to put out … Continue reading Frankie Quinn (Francesca Quinn, P.I.)
Guy Noir (The Prairie Home Companion)
Created by Garrison B. Keillor "It was Valentine's Day in Minnesota. It was cold and dark and bitter and that was just the people." "A dark night in a city that knows how to keep its secrets. . . . But on the 12th Floor of the Acme Building, one man is still trying to … Continue reading Guy Noir (The Prairie Home Companion)
Kidd
Created by John Camp Pseudonyms include John Sandford I always thought the KIDD series was unjustly neglected. A unique creation, particularly for its time (the late 1980s), he was a sort of high-tech scam artist/computer whiz/Travis McGee type with a very stretchy set of ethics and one cracker of a hacker who would — for … Continue reading Kidd
Nils Shapiro
Created by Matt Goldman Minneapolis private eye NILS SHAPIROÂ used to be a cop. And a husband. Now he's neither. He's getting by, coasting on being a smart-ass, but he's still very much feeling the loss of both. Even though he knows he shouldn't. Yeah, it's familiar territory for the shamus game, but author Matt Goldman … Continue reading Nils Shapiro
Mac McKenzie
Created by David Housewright (1955--) Ex-Twin Cities cop RUSHMORE "MAC" McKENZIE works some pretty quirky cases in David Housewright's engaging, noir-tinged series, including investigating the mysterious death of some bees at a honey farm in Tin City (2005), or mucking around with spiritualists (real or imagined) in From the Grave (2020). But what the hell does … Continue reading Mac McKenzie