Lestrade - but the M J Trow incarnation rather than the A C Doyle incarnation.
…which would have been included had it not been so early in the morning.
Kinky, Kinky, Kinky. As in Kinky Friedman, in the novels written by Kinky Friedman.
Yet another vote for Hercule Poirot.
Though, I am a bit partial to Jim Qwilleran in the Cat Who… books…
Gotta put in a beer-battered vote for Spenser.
By the way, mind if I steal this idea for a thread of my own, since as nearly as I can tell everyone here is cooperating and actually voting only for true “detectives”?
Look for “Who’s your favorite fictional amateur sleuth”
Lot of apples and oranges comparisons here, but I have to go with Travis McGee in the incomparable sries by John D. MacDonald. Literate, more than slightly sentimental, tough as nails AND with simply the best sidekick in detective fiction, the one and only ** Meyer **
I have a weakness for Israel Bond, the hero of Sol Weinstein’s “Oy-Oy-7” novels (titles include “Matzohball” and “Loxfinger”—look it up if you think I’m kidding!).
I love both Marlowe and Wimsey. But I’m gonna put in a vote for Robert Crais’ Elvis Cole - and sorry, Hometownboy, but even though I grew up on Travis McGee, Elvis’ sidekick Joe Pike is so cool, you could use him to keep your beer chilled, and IMO wins the sidekick competition by light-years.
Inspector Harry Feiffer of the Hong Kong Police, in William Marshall’s brilliant Yellowthread Street novels. (They’re like Ed McBain on really speedy acid!)
But Father Brown, if we’re talking classic. Much as I love Rex Stout and Dorothy Sayers, nobody had a way with a plot like G.K. Chesterton.
I also have a weakness for Jacques Futrelle’s Professor Augustus S.F.X. Van Dusen, aka The Thinking Machine. “The Problem of Cell 13” still ranks as the best “crime” story of the 20th century, IMHO.
My Ghod, the Thinking Machine! Haven’t thought about him in years, though I owned a book put out in the early 1960s by, IIRC,Tab books, which reprinted I think three of the stories in a slim volume packaged for teenagers. Fine stuff.
RTFirefly, I’m inclined to doubt anyone could be cooler than Meyer, but am willing to consider the possibility. Give me time to track down an Elvis Cole book here in the hinterlands of Oregon and I’ll get back to you.
I also confess a liking to Lord Peter Wimsey. I have several of the multipart series that appeared on Mystery enshrined in my video hall of fame.
Another vote for Nero Wolfe, not forgetting his assistant Archie Goodwin. That is, assuming both of them are fictional of course.
I hate to be unoriginal, but I must put in another vote for Lord Peter. Yum.
I always enjoyed Rex Stout’s Nero WOlfe novels, but that was invariably because of the marvelous cast of recurring characters (especially narrator Archie Goodwin. The mystery itself was always the weakest part of any Wolfe novel. His plots left much to be desired. The best parts of any Wolfe book were the meals, the conversations, the little world Stout created.
Conversely, the plots of Ellery Queen and Agatha Christie were frequently brilliant- but their characters were paper-thin! At their worst, Queen and Christie mysteries were like crossword puzzles- fun to solve, but possessing merit as literature.
Finally, there are guys like Robert B. Parker and Raymond Chandler, whose plots are plodding and predictable, but who write brilliant snappy dialogue, and the kind of wisecracks I wish I were clever enough to come up with (or to SAY, without sounding ridiculous).
So, who is there that has succeeded in creating interesting characters, intriguing mysteries, AND snappy dialogue?
Two come to mind:
Gregory MacDonald (I love the Fletch series AND the Francis X. Flynn series)
G.K. Chesterton (hey, I’m Catholic, so I gotta love Father Brown)
Kinsey Millhone. You go, girl!
Li Kao, the sage with a slight flaw in his character is my favorite fantasy detective, and his sidekick (Number Ten Ox) has to win at least the Distinctive Names competition.
You’ve got to love a detective who got into the business because he found committing crimes too boring.
If we can depart as far as Travis McGee (who might get my vote, except for my real preference), I’ll go for Simon Templar, AKA the Saint. My cat’s name is Sebastian Tombs.
Really, old dears, not only could he take on all the rest, he could do it before fixing martinis with Patricia.
And Hoppy Unitaz was the best “dumb sidekick” ever, excepting not even the good Captain Hastings.
Earl Stanley Gardener’s Donald Lam and Bertha Cool. And if we are including lawyers as detectives, the Perry Mason books are awesome, they fairly well crackle with action.
Poirot, Whimsey, and I have loved Tuppence and Tommy since I was a little girl.
Dick Francis’ jockey detectives are pretty cool, too.
If I may stray as far as fantasy, I would say Commander Vimes, of Terry Pratchets Diskworld. One of my fav characters. Lord Venetari’s terrier, indeed!
**
Yeah, baby! Gotta go with the one who shares my odd name.
Gotta bust out with the original boys from the 'hood,
"Coffin" Ed Johnson and “Grave Digger” Jones.
Chester Himes is so sadly overlooked these days.