Favorite Leading Character in a Series

[Bill]

I like Rebus, Kinsey Milhone, Jan Burke's Irene Kelly, Nevada Barr's Anna Pigeon; they are comfortable characters I can read any time. Some of my favourites include Inspector Brunetti (Donna Leon), Chief of Police Boris (Martin Walker), RCMP Sgt Karl Alberg (LR Wright).. Almost too many to mention.. And many new ones that might join the list.. :0)

[Mel]

Sherlock Holmes.
Hercule Poirot.
Miss Marple.
Tommy and Tuppence.
Crowner John.

[Anne]

Kathy wrote: "J.A. Jance - J.P. Beaumont and Joanna Brady series - love the settings of these novels in Seattle and Arizona

Michael Connelly - Harrry Bosch and Mickey Haller - great writer

Alex Kava - Maggie O..."

[Anne]

Thanks for mentioning Daniel Silva's Eric Allon, He's my all time favorite too.

Other favorites are Ed Eagle from Stuart Woods and De Mille's John Corey.

[Holly]

I like Special Agent Aloysius Pendergast from the Preston & Child novels, and Alex Delaware from the Jonathan Kellerman novels.

[Holly]

Oh, Jack Reacher is awesome too.

[Beth]

I love Myron Bolitar and miss him since Harlan Coben quit his series. Same for Patrick Kinsey, who was dropped by Dennis Lehane.

[Linda]

I love Alex Cross, he's an old friend of mine lol.

[Karen]

Amanda wrote: "My all time favorite lead characters are from Elizabeth Peter's Amelia Peabody series. Amelia and her husband Emerson.

Some others are:
Sherlock Holmes
Adrian Monk
Molly Murphy and Lady Georgie f..."

Amelia and Emerson! followed closely by Ramses! the best

[Victoria]

Jack Reacher. He's just quirky enough to be really interesting. And of course Lucas Davenport.

[Wendy]

Like Watson in Sherlock Holmes, Miss Marple and Seraphina in Death of a Serpent.

[Shelah]

I have an entire family that are favorite characters of mine and it is the SaDiablo family from the Black Jewel Series by Anne Bishop. Then there is Eve Dallas and Roarke from the In Death series by J.D. Robb.

[Susan]

For me, definitely Lincoln Rhyme from Jeffrey Deaver's novels.

[Jeanie]

Hmmm...I think most of my favorite protagonists have already been named, but I'll add to them. I like "smart mouths" (noting that Elvis Cole, Patrick Kenzie and John Corey have already been named) If you don't mind a little sci/fi to go with your p.i. Jim Butcher's "Harry Dresden" can be added to that list of funny fellas. I'd love someone to write me with more suggestions of protagonists that "crack wise". So, if you know of any, please tell me.
On a more serious note, even though some of the truly authentic eccentric southern characters included in her books can be pretty humorous, I don't think anyone has added Margaret Maron's "Judge Deborah Knott". I guess they'd be considered "Cozy" fare, but I love mysteries of all stripes, and these are fabulous.

[Susan]

Yay Patrick Kenzie! And of course, you can't have Patrick without Angie :)

[Rizwan]

Jeanie wrote: "Hmmm...I think most of my favorite protagonists have already been named, but I'll add to them. I like "smart mouths" (noting that Elvis Cole, Patrick Kenzie and John Corey have already been named)..."

Smart mouth-Wise ass is my favorite type of hero too! Combining them with a first person narrative (my preferred kind), if written properly , they can always keep things entertaining even when the story is a bit bore.

Jeanie, have you read any "Joe Ledger" novels by Jonathan Maberry? He's another great smart mouth character with a first person narrative...Although I guess a bit more hard-ass/tough guy than the rest. This series is plain awesome with crime/espionage action thriller combining with some "out there"/X-Files-type plot elements. Give the first one in the series Patient Zero a try if you want.

[Tay]

Jeanie wrote: "Hmmm...I think most of my favorite protagonists have already been named, but I'll add to them. I like "smart mouths" (noting that Elvis Cole, Patrick Kenzie and John Corey have already been named)..."

Another smart mouth you might like is Carter Ross written by Brad Parks

[Johnvano]

virgil flowers (sandford), harry bosch (connelly), and myron bolitar (coben)

[Kathy]

Among my favorites is Brother Cadfael, a 12th century monk in Shrewsbury at the border of Wales. Ellis Peters wrote twenty of his adventures before she died. I was even more enthusiastic after viewing the tv series with Derek Jacobi.

And thanks for these listings. Some I disagree with, and others are instantly on my too-lengthy TBR list.

[James]

tHESE ARE EXCELLENT BOOKS AND THE tv SERIES WAS BRILLIANT. i WENT OUT AND PURCHASED THEM ON dvd SO i CAN WATCH THEM TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
Kathy wrote: "Among my favorites is Brother Cadfael, a 12th century monk in Shrewsbury at the border of Wales. Ellis Peters wrote twenty of his adventures before she died. I was even more enthusiastic after view..."

[Kathy]

James wrote: "tHESE ARE EXCELLENT BOOKS AND THE tv SERIES WAS BRILLIANT. i WENT OUT AND PURCHASED THEM ON dvd SO i CAN WATCH THEM TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

So did I! I only wish Jacobi had made more of them.

[Holly]

Love Special Agent Pendergast, and Alex Delaware.

[Landon]

Without a doubt, Mitch Rapp. By Vince Flynn. Great political thrillers.

[Leigh]

Thank you all have contributed to my "to read" list by contributing to this leading character thread.

:-)

[Andrea]

I love DD Warren from Lisa Gardner's series! She is soooo sure of herself and confident and strong!

[Angela]

I love Alex Cross, Penn Cage and Myron Bolitar.
I also just saw a commercial here in the US of a new TV series, the main characters are King and Maxwell from the David Baldacci books!

[Beth]

Lisa wrote: "I like KateShugak in the Dana Stabenow series. For those of you who don't know the series, its set in the outback of Alaska. Kate Shugak is of native descent and was raised by her uncle. She is a m..."

Being a fan of outdoor-oriented mysteries, like Lisa, I enjoy Kate Shugak in Dana Stabenow's mystery series. I also enjoy Cork O'Connor in William Kent Krueger's mystery series.

[Jackie]

Beth wrote: "Lisa wrote: "I like KateShugak in the Dana Stabenow series. For those of you who don't know the series, its set in the outback of Alaska. Kate Shugak is of native descent and was raised by her uncl..."

[Jackie]

I'm from Alaska and Dana Stabenow writes the locations just as they are. Reading her books set in Anchhorage is just like taking a tour of the city.Like Kate books, but not too involved with Stabenow's stand alones.

[Janice Kozack]

My favorites include

Hercule Poirot
Miss Marple
Flavia de Luce
Elvis Cole and Joe Pike
Phillip Marlowe
Lara McClintoch

[Christopher]

My favorites in no particular order:

Richard Jury & Melrose Plant - Martha Grimes
Jackson Brodie - I dearly hope that Kate Atkinson keeps on writing his stories
John Rebus
Harry Bosch
Flavia DeLuce
Evan Evans - Rhys Bowen, crossing my fingers for more someday
Hamish Macbeth - I never get tired of re-reading this series by MC Beaton


Always looking for more British mystery series....

[Peggy]

Christopher wrote: "My favorites in no particular order:

Richard Jury & Melrose Plant - Martha Grimes
Jackson Brodie - I dearly hope that Kate Atkinson keeps on writing his stories
John Rebus
Harry Bosch
Flavia DeLuc..."

All my favs have already been posted -- but I was excited to see someone mention Richard Jury and Melrose Plant. Both are great characters -- though Melrose never gets enough "screen time" as far as I'm concerned.

[Heidi]

At the moment it's Lacey Flint out of S. J. Bolton's crime novels because she is such an interesting character with a mysterious past -and she is pretty plucky, too. Just finished reading and am moving on to . Great series!

[☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎]

Harry Bosch series
Alex Cross and The Women's Murder Club series
Plum series
Jack Reached and others that at the moment I can't seem to think of at the moment.

[Taylor]

I also love Melrose Plant and Richard Jury, not to mention the supporting characters in the series. My absolute favourites. I can't get enough of them. Also John Rebus, Tom Thorne, and Flavia de Luce.

[Leigh]

Love Monk. I watched the leper episode a few days ago.

[[deleted user]]

My favorite is John Connolly's Charlie Parker.

[Meredith]

I would always root for Patrick in The Perks of Being a Wallflower... and always James Bond (of course)

[Leigh]

Jenni wrote: "I can't help it. I adore Dexter."

I like him too. :-)

[Curlyhair]

My current favourites are

Harry Bosch & Stephanie Plum, closely followed by The Women's Murder Club & Myron Bolitar,

[Curlyhair]

Im going to take some ideas of new books/series to read from this thread though.

Thanks for starting it Leigh.


Amanda

[Leigh]

You're welcome. I have found a few new books to add to my queue too.

[Ron]

Harry Bosch, John Madden, Kurt Wallander, Spenser, Joe Pike, Elvis Cole, Inspector Morse, Eve Dallas, John Davenport, Virgil Flowers, Travis McGee, Lisbeth Salander, Chief Inspector Barnaby, Poirot, James Bond, John Corey, ...

Just to name a few. In no particular order. Well, maybe after Bosch...

As one may be able to divine, I'm a huge fan of series. If I like the protagonist, that is.

[Eleanor]

V.I. Warshawski, Phryne Fisher, Kinsey Millhone, Sister Fidelma, Bess Crawford, Claire Ferguson...

[Pam]

Alex Cross, John Corey, Dave Robicheaux, Harry Bosch,John Davenport

[[deleted user]]

Excellent thread. I am seeing new characters I'd like to read.

[Heather]

Inspector Gamache in Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series. I just adore him - Partly, I think it's because he reminds me of one of my mentors, in both how I imagine his physical appearance and in his deep breadth of knowledge. He's a very intelligent, observant, compassionate character, and Penny has done an excellent job allowing him to evolve throughout the novels. Curling up with Gamache is like whispering with an old friend over hot chocolate on a cold winter's night.

[Holly]

Love Special Agent Alyosius Pendergast and Dr. Alex Delaware!!!!!

[Andrea]

I'm loving Eve Duncan!

[Ron]

Well, I certainly have some misgivings about this forum.

I've found far too many new authors/series for me to read! HELP!!!

My to-read list is right at 400. And, I know it'll never reach 0! With all the time it would take to read all 400 of them, another 400 would be uncovered using this site/forum. I'm, pretty literally, at the point where as soon as I finish a book, another 5-10 have appeared on my list.

So many books, so little time...