Who was your first, favorite, fictional sleuth?

[Joyce]

I’ll get started by saying my first love was Jules Maigret, Commissaire of the Paris "Brigade Criminelle," created by French mystery writer Georges Simenon’s. Laid back and fond of going home for lunch, Maigret was deeply perceptive and believed that if he delved into the victim’s life deeply enough he was sure to find the murderer.

Here is a link to a site devoted to Simenon and Maigret: http://www.trussel.com/f_maig.htm

[Anthony]

I'm torn for my selection. I've always loved Sherlock Holmes but I think that I will probably end up saying that Philip Marlowe is my favourite sleuth. His wit is just too good.

[Eileen]

Nancy Drew who was then followed by Det. Steve Carella at the 87th Precinct.

[Jan C]

Nancy Drew was followed by Lord Peter Wimsey.

[Franky]

I definitely love the way Sherlock Holmes, who astutely looks at each situation and every clue and can pinpoint each minute detail, is able to solve crimes and put every time table for a crime together. I remembered reading the Holmes' novels as a kid and still love them.

[N]

Enid Blyton's Famous Five, secret seven etc then Nancy Drew and Agatha Christie's books.

[[deleted user]]

The Hardy Boys, along with Nancy Drew.

[Andrea]

My very first was Nancy Drew, but I did like the Hardy boys too

[Michael]

My first was Sherlock.
My favorite is Spencer.

[Marie-Jo]

My first was Miss Marple.
My favorite is Hercule Poirot.

[Feliks]

Encyclopedia Brown
The Three Investigators
C. Auguste Dupin
The Hardy Boys

[David]

My first was probably the Hardy Boys.
My favorite:
Spenser
Harry Bosch
The cops of the 87th Precinct
Duncan Kincaid & Gemma James
Andy Carpenter
John Ceepak & Danny Boyle

Sorry. I couldn't name just one.

[Annette]

I agree with Eileen. It has to be Nancy Drew, then Sherlock Holmes. I read every book as it was published. I now have too many to name.

Annette

[Paul]

Sherlock Holmes first. But favourite? Phillip Marlowe... cause he's so COOL.

[Anthony]

Paul wrote: "Sherlock Holmes first. But favourite? Phillip Marlowe... cause he's so COOL."

I wish I could like your post.

[Paul]

Anthony wrote: "Paul wrote: "Sherlock Holmes first. But favourite? Phillip Marlowe... cause he's so COOL."

I wish I could like your post."

Ha ha - 'LIKE' Anthony.

[Terri]

Nancy Drew and Encyclopedia Brown

[JackM]

Sherlock Holmes was my first.

[Georgia]

Hey Felix, Dupin of course!!

[Feliks]

Certainly! What kid doesn't read 'The Purloined Letter' as one of their earliest stories?

[Donna, Co-Moderator]

Nancy Drew started it all for me, then a tie with Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot!

[Lance]

Encyclopedia Brown.

[Carmen]

Beverly Gray. She was a NYC reporter in the 1930's who lived in a big apartment with all her college girlfriends and had a boyfriend who designed airplanes. Little known series by Claire Blank.

[Khyma]

Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys. If I remember I started seriously reading and borrowing books from our school library when I was in 3rd or 4th grade and never stop since then. I also tried the Bobsey Twins.

[Denise]

[Denise]

Encyclopedia Brown - Nancy Drew

[Aja]

Hi all!
My first was Nancy Drew the secret of the old clock.
My favourite right now is Miss Marple but I also like what I have watched of detective chief inspector Barnaby. I have the first in that series on order along with some danger involved which I'm also excited about.

[Skye]

Nancy Drew, then Trixie Beldon

[Bespectacledreader]

Nancy Drew.

[Shereen]

Nancy Drew.

[Zoe]

Sherlock Holmes ofc lol

[Bill]

Nancy Drew...

[Tom]

Something Queer is Going On by Elizabeth Levy. Great series

[Faith]

I could never get into Nancy Drew, though I tried many times because she was my sister's favorite. Read some Trixie Beldon but right around the same time I found Ellery Queen. He was my first favorite and I'm still fond of him.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Nancy Drew definitely the first - then the Hardy Boys , then got bored with all that and moved on to Agatha Christie.

[Michele]

Nancy Drew was the first, but Trixie Belden was my favorite.

[Gary]

I'll go with Maigret. To me, he was the most "human" of all the great fictional detectives. He was brilliant, but didn't flaunt it; strong, but only used force when necessary. He listened, watched, and waited. He looked for motives, and was never blinded by prejudice. He liked to drink, but could hold his liquor. And Simenon, like his detective, never wasted words.

[Jo]

Sherlock Holmes. Legendary.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Carmen wrote: "Beverly Gray. She was a NYC reporter in the 1930's who lived in a big apartment with all her college girlfriends and had a boyfriend who designed airplanes. Little known series by Claire Blank."

I have copies of those books! I also have (with original dust jackets) Vicki Barr (the stewardess), Cherry Ames (the nurse) and the Dana Girls. I pick them used in great shape when I can find them.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Oh! And the original Three Investigators series books.

[Skye]

Nancy wrote: "Carmen wrote: "Beverly Gray. She was a NYC reporter in the 1930's who lived in a big apartment with all her college girlfriends and had a boyfriend who designed airplanes. Little known series by Cl..."

Nancy, I adored Cherry Ames: I am also familiar with Vickie Barr.

[Feliks]

This is fascinating. I've never heard of these obscure series.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

My mother had some really old ones at home, and I read those and started filling in the holes of the series later.

[Skye]

Feliks, they were good, and for the time frame, they presented women as strong, able bodied, and smart/

[Jan C]

I read a few of the Cherry Ames - I think they were castoffs from a couple of neighboring girls who were a few years ahead of me in school.

[Alexander]

Hercule Poirot!!

[Alexander]

And Jessica Fletcher, Miss Marple, Dr. John Thorndyke, and Father Brown;
And
Of course, C. Auguste Dupin and Sherlock Holmes too

[Alexander]

And a dozen more obscure ones too

[Alexander]

Probably more of a tangential sidestep, but maybe the pilot-adventurer James Bigglesworth, "Biggles"?

[Alexander]

Although, the latter is probably more in the realm of adventure stories, with some mystery involvement than a part of the greater detective genre, strictly speaking