# Ideally, murders and other mysteries should be solved by ... **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 12, 2011, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideally-murders-and-other-mysteries-should-be-solved-by/592511 "2011-08-12T21:27:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideally-murders-and-other-mysteries-should-be-solved-by/592511/21 "2011-08-17T03:14:41Z")
1. A Florida beach bum who lives on a boat he won in a poker game. Travis McGee, in _ **Free Fall in Crimson** _, among others. 1. A Florida police chief’s brainy 11 year old son. Leroy “Encyclopedia” Brown 1. A former jockey with an artificial hand. Sid Halley, in \*\*\*Whip Hand \*\*\*and _ **Under Orders,** _ among other novels ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideally-murders-and-other-mysteries-should-be-solved-by/592511/22 "2011-08-18T15:48:27Z")
I didn’t actually know any of yours, **astorian** , but I guessed your 21. Giving it one last shot with spoilered answers to my 19 and 20: 1. A former reporter and would-be pulp author who has taken to the nightlife of post-Depression Chicago. Jack Fleming, of P. N. Elrods _Vampire Files_, a vampire who teams up with a private agent to solve his own murder, and goes on to become his partner in further adventures. Jack wants to write for _Weird Tales_. 1. A private detective who has put dancing and death behind her, though with less success at the latter than she’d like. Harper Blaine, of Kat Richardson’s _Greywalker_ series, a Seattle PI who died for two minutes, and returned to life with the ability to perceive and act in the Grey, the half-world of ghosts and other supernatural beings. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideally-murders-and-other-mysteries-should-be-solved-by/592511/23 "2011-08-18T16:33:31Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > Explanatory note: Over on LJ, a friend of mine posted a poll asking this question and giving semi-obscure descriptions of fictional detectives (amateur and otherwise). > > … > > Mods can feel free to move to the Game Room if they feel that’s more appropriate. > > To start: > > Murders and other mysteries should be solved by: I would like to complain about this poll. No cats. ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideally-murders-and-other-mysteries-should-be-solved-by/592511/24 "2011-08-18T18:41:56Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > 1. A former reporter and would-be pulp author who has taken to the nightlife of post-Depression Chicago. I’ve read those books, but the part about the would-be pulp author threw me off, as I’d forgotten about that. > [@elfkin477](#): > > 1. A veterinarian with a mobile clinic and a perchance for being in the wrong place at the right time. I want to know who this one is. Some more? 1. A Motswana woman with a traditional build who drives a tiny white van. 2. A Navajo Tribal Policeman who studies crime patterns using colored pins on a wall map. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideally-murders-and-other-mysteries-should-be-solved-by/592511/25 "2011-08-19T02:01:41Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > I would like to complain about this poll. > > No cats. I aim to please. 25. A former newspaper reporter with two Siamese helpers. (You read his LJ, too, I see.) **Eleanor** , is 24 Jim Chee? ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideally-murders-and-other-mysteries-should-be-solved-by/592511/26 "2011-08-19T04:01:50Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > 1. A veterinarian with a mobile clinic and a perchance for being in the wrong place at the right time. > [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](#): > > I want to know who this one is. [Cynthia Baxter](http://www.cynthiabaxter.com/), _Reigning Cats and Dogs_ [I don’t like the main character’s love interest](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=613034), but otherwise they’re pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideally-murders-and-other-mysteries-should-be-solved-by/592511/27 "2011-08-19T15:43:39Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > **Eleanor** , is 24 Jim Chee? Close - Joe Leaphorn is the one famous for his wall map. > [@elfkin477](#): > > 1. A veterinarian with a mobile clinic and a perchance for being in the wrong place at the right time.[Cynthia Baxter](http://www.cynthiabaxter.com/), _Reigning Cats and Dogs_ Thanks. Those sound cute. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideally-murders-and-other-mysteries-should-be-solved-by/592511/28 "2011-08-19T22:26:22Z")
1. A Korean War vet whose proudest moment was when he fought Jersey Joe Walcott and wasn’t beaten too badly Spenser 1. A charming blond ex-Marine who’s been a newspaper reporter and a Presidential candidate’s advisor. Irwin “Fletch” Fletcher ---
**Author:** ![willthekittensurvive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/91b2a8/32.png) [@willthekittensurvive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/willthekittensurvive)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideally-murders-and-other-mysteries-should-be-solved-by/592511/29 "2011-08-22T08:19:24Z")
1. Agoraphobic NWcPD detective solves murders with his Robot sidekick Elijah Baley from Isaac Asimov’s Robot series ---
**Author:** ![willthekittensurvive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/91b2a8/32.png) [@willthekittensurvive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/willthekittensurvive)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideally-murders-and-other-mysteries-should-be-solved-by/592511/30 "2011-08-22T09:35:05Z")
> [@willthekittensurvive](#): > > 1. Agoraphobic NWcPD detective solves murders with his Robot sidekick > > Elijah Baley from Isaac Asimov’s Robot series should be NYcPD detective:smack: also 28:a fifteen-year-old boy with Asperger’s Syndrome investigates the murder of a poodle. Christopher John Francis Boone in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time 29:doper tracks down habitual plagiarizing gits and exposes them in the pit orcenio in [athelas is a habitual plagiarizing git](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=614889) ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideally-murders-and-other-mysteries-should-be-solved-by/592511/31 "2011-08-22T09:53:13Z")
> [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](#): > > 1. A Motswana woman with a traditional build who drives a tiny white van. Mma Precious Ramotswe, _The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency_I recommend the television series. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideally-murders-and-other-mysteries-should-be-solved-by/592511/32 "2011-08-22T13:24:04Z")
1. The World’s Greatest Detective and his extremely laconic partner Elvis Cole and Joe Pike ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideally-murders-and-other-mysteries-should-be-solved-by/592511/33 "2011-08-22T17:18:10Z")
1. Those meddling kids! (Sorry, no pets.) The Bloodhound Detective Agency ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideally-murders-and-other-mysteries-should-be-solved-by/592511/34 "2011-08-22T20:05:18Z")
1. A brilliant cocaine addict and his stalwart physician friend. Oh, come on. Like you don’t know who _this_ is! 1. An English monk who knows an evil book when he sees one. William of Baskerville, Umberto Eco’s _The Name of the Rose_ 1. A world-weary old cop in a rainy, filthy city who does his very best no matter what. William Somerset (Morgan Freeman), _Se7en_ ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideally-murders-and-other-mysteries-should-be-solved-by/592511/35 "2011-08-24T03:59:14Z")
1. Clumsy Frenchman with a martial artist house boy. What, you don’t know this one, either? 1. An Oxford police inspector with a love of ale and opera. Inspector Morse, _Last Bus to Woodstock_ 1. An English aristocrat with possible royal connections, whose manservant is a former burglar. Albert Campion, _The Black Dudley Murder_ ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideally-murders-and-other-mysteries-should-be-solved-by/592511/36 "2011-08-24T16:40:43Z")
1. A reluctant nobleman, who perceives his family obligations to be sacrosanct. Best all around if he solves his mysteries by early evening (although he can always pick up later where he left off).His Grace, Samuel Vimes, Duke of Ankh-Morpork ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideally-murders-and-other-mysteries-should-be-solved-by/592511/37 "2011-08-24T19:55:31Z")
1. An effete little Belgian who is quite particular about his clothes and his moustache. Hercule Poirot, but of course! 1. A shlumpy Frenchman who wore his overcoat and hat even on the Riviera. Jules Maigret, created by Georges Simenon. ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideally-murders-and-other-mysteries-should-be-solved-by/592511/38 "2011-08-24T20:34:06Z")
1. A former slave who trained in Paris as a surgeon and a musician, lately returned to his childhood home in New Orleans. He’s aided by an opium-addicted violinist and an unprepossessing policeman from Kentucky.Benjamin January, Barbara Hambly’s _A Free Man of Color_ 2. A former legionary who has taken up with a senator’s daughter and does undercover work for the Emperor Vespasian.Marcus Didius Falco, series by Lindsey Davis ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideally-murders-and-other-mysteries-should-be-solved-by/592511/39 "2011-08-24T20:52:27Z")
This thread is its own Sequential Thread. Just read across… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideally-murders-and-other-mysteries-should-be-solved-by/592511/40 "2011-08-24T21:09:16Z")
1. A one-eyed tuba player who uses his knowledge of stage magic to catch crooks. Lt. Columbo. What? It’s misleading but accurate. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideally-murders-and-other-mysteries-should-be-solved-by/592511.md?page=1)