# People other than Police who Solve Murders **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 17, 2014, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-other-than-police-who-solve-murders/698697 "2014-09-17T00:42:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-other-than-police-who-solve-murders/698697/61 "2014-09-18T02:30:47Z")
Sometimes, bad guys … make the best good guys. A grifter, a hacker, a thief, a hitter, and an ex ins agent. At least a few eps concerned murder or other killings. ---
**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-other-than-police-who-solve-murders/698697/62 "2014-09-18T03:00:01Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > Don’t forget about that one detective who solves crimes in his spare time. Hey! I’m trying to eat lunch here. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-other-than-police-who-solve-murders/698697/63 "2014-09-18T03:31:17Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > No one has mentioned the obvious: witnesses–I just saw my next door neighbor murder his wife. That’s not solving the crime though; that’s just setting up the initial premise. What you _actually_ saw was your next door neighbour’s wife faking her death with the aid of her illicit lover. It was done with the aid of a stage knife that can push the blade into the handle, a mannequin, a hologram projector, a string connecting a door handle to a record player for some reason, and a set of clothes that was eaten after the crime. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-other-than-police-who-solve-murders/698697/64 "2014-09-18T03:53:45Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > That’s not solving the crime though; that’s just setting up the initial premise. > > What you _actually_ saw was your next door neighbour’s wife faking her death with the aid of her illicit lover. It was done with the aid of a stage knife that can push the blade into the handle, a mannequin, a hologram projector, a string connecting a door handle to a record player for some reason, and a set of clothes that was eaten after the crime. But the icthyologist got suspicious when he noticed that someone must have fed the tropical fish _after_ her death. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-other-than-police-who-solve-murders/698697/65 "2014-09-18T04:21:04Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > I can’t believe no one’s mentioned Forensic Anthropologist yet! Sorry; All I know about Forensic Anthropologists comes from the type of TV show that depicts them carrying guns and actually arresting people. ---
**Author:** ![Waterman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Waterman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waterman)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-other-than-police-who-solve-murders/698697/66 "2014-09-18T09:10:54Z")
> [@Horatio\_Hellpop](#): > > Plucky wives of detectives (Sally McMillan, Kate Columbo) > High-functioning sociopaths (BBC Sherlock, Doctor Who) > Sexy serial killers with a need for intellectual stimulation > Malibu Barbie in between modeling and concert gigs While the above seems to be a veiled reference, I can’t believe that a proper listing has not been made for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s _Sherlock Holmes_! ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-other-than-police-who-solve-murders/698697/67 "2014-09-18T11:31:39Z")
> [@Waterman](#): > > While the above seems to be a veiled reference, I can’t believe that a proper listing has not been made for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s _Sherlock Holmes_! The first item listed in the OP was “Private Detectives” which I assume includes “Consulting Detectives.” We don’t actually need a separate naming for each person (IMHO), we’re talking categories. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-other-than-police-who-solve-murders/698697/68 "2014-09-18T13:03:57Z")
I have forgotten the fellow’s name who wrote mysteries where the protagonist was an English antique divvy. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-other-than-police-who-solve-murders/698697/69 "2014-09-18T14:32:00Z")
Antiques Cop Show on PBS ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2014, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-other-than-police-who-solve-murders/698697/70 "2014-09-18T15:10:39Z")
Bishop “Blackie” Ryan, from the series by Andrew Greeley. ---
**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:** [September 19, 2014, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-other-than-police-who-solve-murders/698697/71 "2014-09-19T13:18:06Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I have forgotten the fellow’s name who wrote mysteries where the protagonist was an English antique divvy. [Lovejoy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovejoy)? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-other-than-police-who-solve-murders/698697/72 "2014-09-19T14:05:03Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > [Lovejoy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovejoy)? Yes, thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-other-than-police-who-solve-murders/698697/73 "2014-09-19T15:35:00Z")
Who was the rock band who solved mysteries in that one episode of **South Park**? I’m thinking Linkin Park, but it was so long ago. They had a “Mystery Machine”-type van and loved playing “I Spy with My Little Eye.” ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-other-than-police-who-solve-murders/698697/74 "2014-09-19T16:19:13Z")
“Dilettante dandy”: > **[Jason King (TV series)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_King_(TV_series))** > > Jason King is a British television series starring Peter Wyngarde as the eponymous character. It was produced by ITC Entertainment and had a single season of 26 one-hour episodes that aired from 1971 to 1972. It was shown internationally as well, and has been released on DVD in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia and Germany.\[citation needed\] > The series featured the further adventures of the title character who had first appeared in Department S (1969). In that series he was a di... “Millionaire playboys”: [The Persuaders - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Persuaders)! ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-other-than-police-who-solve-murders/698697/75 "2014-09-19T16:25:37Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > I can’t believe no one’s mentioned Forensic Anthropologist yet! I came into this thread to mention just that. Back in the day, one of my Anthro profs came into class happy as could be, because he had just earlier in the day solved a murder for the local police. He was a physical anthropologist. ---
**Author:** ![EPoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f6c823/32.png) [@EPoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EPoch)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-other-than-police-who-solve-murders/698697/76 "2014-09-19T18:50:46Z")
There should be a whole section Supernatural Creatures: Vampires (Forever Knight, Blood Ties, Moonlight, Angel) Werewolves, along with a Banshee, who are in their teens (Teen Wolf) Immortals (New Amsterdam, Forever; that is currently running on ABC) Or brothers who hunters who are after the supernatural creatures that are killing people (Supernatural, Buffy) ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-other-than-police-who-solve-murders/698697/77 "2014-09-19T20:25:50Z")
> [@Horatio\_Hellpop](#): > > Who was the rock band who solved mysteries in that one episode of **South Park**? I’m thinking Linkin Park, but it was so long ago. They had a “Mystery Machine”-type van and loved playing “I Spy with My Little Eye.” It was [Korn](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korn%27s_Groovy_Pirate_Ghost_Mystery). ---
**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:** [September 20, 2014, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-other-than-police-who-solve-murders/698697/78 "2014-09-20T11:54:51Z")
Sports agent (Myron Bolitar). ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-other-than-police-who-solve-murders/698697/79 "2014-09-20T20:19:21Z")
[Noel Coward](http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00t5jmj)! There have been several murder mystery dramas on BBC radio by this woman, that have Noel Coward solving murders. (I do not know if they were radio originals, or if they pre-existed in some other format.) Other BBC Radio murder mystery series feature a jobbing actor (Charles Paris), who solves murders, and an Italian-English Franciscan Friar and Catholic priest who is on sabbatical from his priestly duties and actually working as a university lecturer in semiotics, and who solves murders in Ireland (Paolo Baldi). (Absurd as the premise is, the Baldi stories are mostly excellent, and the Charles Paris ones are very serviceable. The Noel Coward ones are a bit silly.) ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2014, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-other-than-police-who-solve-murders/698697/80 "2014-09-21T00:56:24Z")
> [@AncientHumanoid](#): > > Sometimes, bad guys … make the best good guys. > > A grifter, a hacker, a thief, a hitter, and an ex ins agent. At least a few eps concerned murder or other killings. Hey! I like that show! I’m taking notes here so I can expand my online viewing, as if even more quirky detectives who solve stuff the police can’t solve is an expansion. My latest discoveries are wizards, large but non-violent English solicitors, and agoraphobic chess masters. And a bit more current, guys who were placed in stasis 200-odd years ago and just now thawed. > [@PastTense](#): > > No one has mentioned the obvious: witnesses–I just saw my next door neighbor murder his wife. I bet the police won’t believe you, you have to solve the case from your wheelchair. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-other-than-police-who-solve-murders/698697.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-other-than-police-who-solve-murders/698697.md?page=5)