Mystery novels have the ability to grab our attention from the first page and keep us on the edge until the end. Sometimes, we try to figure out who the killer is before the detectives; we either succeed or we fail, but we have fun nonetheless. Other times we simply immerse ourselves in the mystery and enjoy the brilliant plot.
Needless to say, throughout the decades thousands of mystery novels were printed. Some shone from the beginning and gathered worldwide acclaim. Others fell short. Most of the success of these novels lies not only with the plot itself, but with the detective who must have the ability to capture the reader’s attention from the first pages. Below, we present four of the most famous detectives from mystery literature.
1. Sherlock Holmes
Perhaps the most famous detective in mystery literature, Sherlock Holmes is the creation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. He appears in four novels and fifty-six short stories. His first appearance was in the novel “A study in scarlet” published in 1887. The detective is most famous for his extra-keen powers of observation which he uses to solve perplexing mysteries, aided by his friend Dr. John H. Watson. His operation base is his flat in 221 B Baker Street in London.
2. Hercule Poirot
In 1920, Agatha Christie’s “The Mysterious Affair at Styles” was published for the first time. The novel introduced the readers to Hercule Poirot, a retired Belgian police officer who comes to England during the First World War as a refugee. He is famous for solving cases with the help of his “little grey cells”, sometimes without even leaving the room.
3. Miss Marple
Agatha Christie’s Miss Jane Marple appeared in 12 novels and 20 short stories. She is an elderly spinster who spends her spare times solving mysteries in her hometown, St. Mary Mead. She solves her cases by using analogies with people and events she knows from the village life.
4. Jules Maigret
Commissaire Jules Maigret is the creation of Belgian author Georges Simenon. Maigret is a French detective working in Paris. He appears in seventy-five novels and twenty-nine short stories. His methods of investigation are closest to the ones used by real policemen.
Who are your favorite detectives from mystery novels?
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