Robocop doesn’t count—he was all cop, after all.
a mentalist…
…Pie Makers.
Burglars {Lawrence Block’s Bernie Rhodenbarr}.
Disgraced army officers {Bernard Cornwell’s The Gallows Thief}
12 Century Monks {Ellis Peters’ Brother Cadfael}
Bertie Woosterish upper class idlers {Dorothy Sayers Lord Peter Wimsey, Margery Allingham’s Albert Campion}
About the hokeyest murder mystery series I’ve seen so far is Rosemary and Thyme, with two middle-aged British female landscapers/gardeners (Felicity Kendall and Pam Ferris). Everywhere they go, someone inevitably gets whacked/snuffed/offed.
WIFE: Oh, by the way, darling, are we going to have the garden done over this year?
HUSBAND: Mmm. Thought I’d give a new service a try. Rosemary and Thyme. Found 'em on the Internet. They’ll be here tomorrow.
WIFE: That’s nice. Now go on, eat your mushrooms!
Close second is Pie in the Sky with the late Richard Griffiths. Former cop turned restauranteur:
“Eeuw! Too much anchovy sauce in the stew!”
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
NM
An angel (Gaiman’s Murder Mysteries)
Magician’s assistants / technicians (Jonathan Creek)
Accounts Manager (also Jonathan Creek…I think that was his job title in latest special)
Wizards (Harry Dresden).
Part Fae telepaths (Sookie Stackhouse)
Jockeys (Dick Francis)
Random Asian men (Charlie Chan and Mr Moto).
Agoraphobics (Isaac Asimov’s Wendell Urth mysteries).
Math professor - Numbers
Mystery writer - Ellory Queen
Computers?
14th Century Monks -William of Baskerville / Umberto Eco
7th Century Nuns - Sister Fidelma / Peter Tremayne
6th Century Priest of Mithras - John the Eunuch / Eric Mayer and Mary Reed
15th Century Druid - Antoinette Charboneau / Antoinette Charboneau
20th Century Voodoo Priest - Papa LaBas / Ishmael Reed
Consultants for the NYPD
Werewolves - Shelley Holmes
Vampires - Mick St. John, Angel, Nick Knight etc.
Professors of agriculture (Peter Shandy)
Caterers (Goldy - Diane Mott Davidson)