The Cozy Mystery List Blog

Cozy Mystery (and Other Favorite) Books, Movies, and TV

Authors With Two (or More) Great Sleuth Characters

I was talking to my husband the other day, and I asked him how he was doing with his “project” to read (or re-read) all of Agatha Christie’s books from the beginning. Over the years he has read or listened to many of Christie’s books, but he never completed any of her series. So, now that he has more time on his hands (early retirement), he decided to begin again and to read them all the way to the end in the series’ chronological order (not as a marathon – but with taking breaks here and there to read other books.)

He told me he had finished the first Miss Marple, the first two Poirot, the first Tommy and Tuppence and the first Inspector Battle books. He is now taking a break from Christie but will resume his little “project” in a week or so. In our discussion, he mentioned that one of the things that makes Christie great is her creation of two of the greatest sleuth characters in mystery fiction – Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot. And, that both of these classic characters are quite different even though they both rely on insight into human nature as the primary means to solve mysteries.

Of course, Christie’s other main sleuths, Tommy and Tuppence and Inspector Battle are also classic characters in mystery fiction, but, in my opinion they don’t measure up to Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot as truly great creations. I haven’t read the Battle books in a long time, but the Tommy and Tuppence stories are in a way more like adventure stories than they are straight mysteries (at least that is the way I remember them.)  The first Battle book actually has very little of Inspector Battle and is more along the lines of the Tommy and Tuppence stories.  Marple and Poirot are more “classic” Agatha Christie, in my view. At the least, their popularity is reflected by their having been portrayed in movies and TV far more often than Christie’s other characters.

Anyway, this conversation got me thinking about making a list of other authors who have created two or more memorable sleuths who are wildly different the way Miss Marple and Poirot are and that will (possibly) stand the test of time and be thought of as classic mystery sleuths in the future.

So, I wanted to pose the question – which Cozy Mystery authors do you think have created two or more classic sleuths (in two or more of the author’s different series) who are so good that you feel compelled to read both (or more) of the author’s series from beginning to end? I’ll take the easy way out and start the list with Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot. (I told you I was taking the easy way out!)

I started compiling a list of the Cozy Mystery authors who write two or more series with sleuths who are very different from each other, but there have been so many comments that I have decided to stop listing them and let the comments speak for themselves. I encourage you to read all of the comments below.

Comments

  2. I know it’s fluff, but I love both Parnell Hall series and I have yet to read a Tim Myers (etc.) that I didn’t love. I realize these don’t qualify as “classics”, but they are sleuths and gobs of fun. Hope I haven’t led the discussion down the wrong path!

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    • Jenny, thank you! I’m sorry >>> I made a mistake in my blog entry. I should have added “in two or more of the author’s different series”. However, when I read your comment, I immediately saw my mistake, which I’ve corrected. (Also, if it’s fluff, then add me to the list of people who like fluff!)

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      • Add me to the list of those who like ‘Fluff’, too, please! Lol! Light, escapist, reading. Just one of the many reasons I like cozies so much!

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  3. John Dixon Carr (Carter Dickson)
    * Dr. Gideon Fell, the “old lexicographer” in England
    * Sir Henry Merrivale, holder of one of the oldest baronetcies in England, physician, barrister, and head of military intelligence for the war office in England:

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    • Ellen, thank you! I made a mistake when I wrote the entry, and left off a sentence that would have made more sense to the entry: I should have added “in two or more of the author’s different series”. I’m sorry about that. However, you gave me a wonderful idea for a future entry, which will have something to do with famous sleuth pairs.

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  9. Anybody read Dorothy Sayers? I just purchased the Lord Wimsey series on DVD (I know, cheating). I saw them when they were initially on PBS several decades ago. I promise to read her books, too.

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    • Yes! I just finished Unnatural Death and started The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club. And this is not my first reading of either–love Lord Wimsey and Bunter.

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      • I’m so glad to hear folks are still reading the classic mysteries. I was wondering about the Father Brown mysteries. I’d like to start reading them, too, after seeing the production on PBS. Charming!

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      • You just want her and Jack to have a little more than one kiss (which they had in one of the shows). Ah the tension! Love the sweet romance between Hugh and Dot, too.

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      • Well it’s Friday evening, it’s about 7 degrees here in Bucks Co., PA, so I’m in for the night. I think I’ll watch one of those Wimsey mysteries, read a little Blood and Circuses (Kerry Greenwood) and keep the hot tea flowing. It’s going to snow tomorrow, then rain on Sunday. As long as I the power holds out, I’ll be happy. This blog has given me so many new leads to good series that I don’t have to fret about possibly running out of good series to read (or watch). Thanks to all who’ve blogged such good recommendations. I’ve been adding books to my Amazon shopping list. Thanks again!

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  10. How about Charlotte MacLeod’s alter ego – Alisa Craig? She has two other great detective groups – Mountie Madoc Rhys and his wife Janet and the other series – The Grub-and-Stakers.

    Another pairing would be Elizabeth Peters – her Amelia Peabody series and the mysteries involving Vicky Bliss.

    So many great series!

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  12. Carolyn Hart — Annie Darling in the Death on Demand series, Henrie O, and Bailey Ruth Raeburn — that’s 3!

    Joyce and Jim Lavene, with — HOW MANY???? Peggie Lee, Sharyn Howard, Jessie Morton in the Ren Faire series, Dae O’Donnel in the Missing Pieces series, Fire Chief Stella Griffin in the Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade series, Maggie Grady in the Pie Shop series, Skye Mertz in the Taxi for the Dead series, and Zoe Chase in the Biscuit Bowl Food Truck series.

    Kylie Logan — Josie Giancola in the Button Box series, Bea Cartwright in the League of Literary Ladies series, Maxie Pierce in the Chili Cook-Off series.

    By the way, I really like Tommy & Tuppence best of all the Christie series & characters!

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  13. A lot of the cozy writers I read have different series. There’s Laura Childs with the Tea Shop, Scrapbook and Cackleberry Club Series. Juliet Blackwell -The Contracter with ghosts and the Second hand Dress shop with the witch. Mary Daheim-Bed and Breakfast and Alpine series(We are at Z, I hope she finds some more letters!). Miranda James-Charlie and Diesel and now the Southern sisters. Victoria Hamilton with the Kitchen series, and the Muffin series. Nancy J. Parra has several with the Bakery and engagement planning and is starting a new series out soon. Jenn Mckinlay has 3 series going, Ellery Adams has the book group, the bakery and her new Mystery suite series. Heather Blake and the Wishcrafters and Potion shop, both which I love. Not to mention all the authors who write under pseudonyms! What’s strange is that I love these and many more authors, but I like some of their series, but can’t stand other series they write!

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  14. I seem to be forever mentioning her – but my fellow Australian Kerry Greenwood. Phryne Fisher and Corrina Chapman.
    These are both (Particularly the latter) very more-ish. I can’t seem to read just one. 🙂

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      • I’m reading all the miss fisher books too! She’s a little facet, but so much fun. I’m up to Blood and Circuses. I hope she and Jack some how take the lid off the cookie jar. Good reads for staying inside and avoiding the east coast weather. Darn that ground hog.

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  15. Danna I am reading a series of 38 books written by Dell Shannon.It features Luis Mendoza as her chief character. Thus far I have reached #22 and I am hooked. Evidently I read them piecemeal in the sixties but not all of them and not in order. It is all your fault. You listed her books among the inexpensive Kindle books so I bought a Kindle and all of them. It is a great way to escape the blizzards that are causing such havoc. It amazes me how much mores have changed since the sixties. In addition to this series she has 2 other ones under different names. When I finish this one, I am going to do some other reading. I am so addicted. This is all I can do is read and read and read. HELP ! ! !

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    • Regina, I don’t know how you are doing this! You must love Dell Shannon! I’m always afraid that if I read an author back-to-back, I’ll find the author repetitive, and then get turned off from him/her. Being able to read them back-to-back is a pretty good indicator that they’re really good.

      I’m sorry about the awful weather you all are experiencing out there in the east. Your wind chills look horrible! Our daughter is moving out to Washington, DC next year >>> permanently. It will be a winter-weather shock for her after a year in New Orleans and a year in Austin. She’ll have to unpack her winter coats, scarves, and gloves!

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  17. I can’t believe I forgot to mention by other favorite..Denise Swanson and her 2 series Scrumble River and Devereaux’s Dime Store.

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  18. Susan, I agree! I love both characters but especially love Corrina Chapman. Snarky, opinionated and with a big, nurturing heart.

    As for Ann Perry’s series I have xomw to love the Monk series best, ever since Pitt started working at the Home Office they’re a bit ponderous. But I still adore Lady (Aunt) Vespasia Cumming-Gould!

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  19. I love your articles. But I wonder why you only attached Hercule Poirot and Jane Marple to Agatha Christie. She didn’t just have two characters – there were more! Harley Quin, Parker Pyne and Tommy and Tuppence Beresford were just a few.

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  20. Margaret Coel- Father John O’Malley and Vicky Holden from the Wind River mysteries, and investigative reporter Catherine McLeod from the Catherine McLeod mysteries.

    Hannah Reed- Story Fischer from the Queen Bee mysteries and Eden Elliott from the Scottish Highlands mysteries.

    Livia Washburn- Phyllis Newsom from the Fresh Baked mysteries and Delilah Dickinson from the Literary Tour mysteries

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  21. I guess the operative words in your blog, Danna, is ‘two great sleuths who are wildly different’ by the same author. Many of the postings are for an author(s) who have created two or more sleuths, but (in my humble opinion) are not all that different.

    The sleuths have different names, different occupations, maybe different backgrounds, but often times they’re very similar in substance. The posting that caught my eye was Denise Swanson’s two sleuths. I find them very similar. I find Laura Child’s sleuths Theodosia (Tea Shop) and Carmella (Scrapbook) very similar. I commented in the last recommendations that I thought the sleuth (Stella) in Lavenes’ Fire Brigade series was similar to Sharyn Howard in that series (by the same name). There are many more I could list.

    If I like the sleuth character in one series, I most likely will like the sleuth character in another. I find the authors usually differentiate their series by the characters they create surrounding the sleuth.

    The authors which may have different sleuths are some that have ventured into the paranormal after having written ‘normal’ series. They seem to spend more time on developing the ‘paranormal’ situation than fully developing the main character. The Lavenes have done this, as has Cricket McCrea/Bailey Cates amongst others. Since I’m not a paranormal fan, I don’t read these series because I don’t like the characters.

    If an author creates sleuths of vastly different ages (30 vs 60), they might be dissimilar because of the age background experiences that could (if the author chooses) be brought to the character.

    One could get into some ‘deep thinking’ on this subject…….too much for me on a Friday!!

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  22. Sharyn McCrumb – Elizabeth MacPherson and Jay Omega. I’m not sure you could really count Nora Bonesteel as a sleuth, but I stopped reading the Ballad series partway through, so I can’t say for sure how the character developed. I loved Elizabeth MacPherson (and particularly her cousin Geoffrey), though.

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  23. Simon Brett’s Charles Paris (Charles Paris series), and Carol and Jude (Fethering mysteries). And there’s the Blotto and Twinx series, too. All different and I love them all. He also has a Mrs Pargeter series that I haven’t read yet.

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