Detectives in Love
Golden Age mysteries were not supposed to include much romance. Yet many detectives of that period did fall in love and even marry. Lord Peter courted Harriet Vane through three books, beginning with Strong Poison, and finally married her in the fourth. Albert Campion had that silly infatuation with Linda Sutane in Dancers in Mourning, but he finally came to his senses and married Amanda Fitton.
But my favorite and the one who, I believe, started it all, is Philip Trent in Trent’s Last Case. Written in 1913, TLC is thought by some critics and mystery fans to be the first real Golden Age mystery ( a few years before the “Golden Age” began). I love the book, and I love the havoc that Trent’s passion wreaks on his solution of the case. [The "nom" that I use on the DorothyL e-list is Mabel Manderson, who just happens to be Trent's beloved.]
So who is your favorite detective in love? It doesn’t have to be a Golden Age detective – and it certainly doesn’t have to be a male sleuth. Just tell us who he/she is and why he/she is your favorite detective in love. 
Dave said,
December 17, 2008 at 3:32 am
I think it would have to be a toss-up between Luis Mendoza and his Alison, and Roderick Alleyn and Troy. There’s a lot of Latin passion in the former relationship, and certain amount of British reserve tempered by an equal passion in the latter. I vividly recall Mendoza tearing off through the streets of Los Angeles when Alison was kidnapped, but can’t recall anything quite so dramatic in Marsh’s books.
Barbara Sherako said,
December 17, 2008 at 11:56 pm
I like Peter and Campion but my favorite Is Ian Rutledge, Charles Todd’s hero. He is a police inspector in London and travels everywhere with an invisible soldier whom he had shot for disobedience to follow orders in WWI. His finance has left him because he is shell shocked from the war. There’s an opening for a good imaginative woman.
Barbara Sherako said,
December 17, 2008 at 11:57 pm
I think I missed the point there because Ian isn’t in love -he’s just lovable
Clare said,
December 18, 2008 at 12:46 am
I’m thinking of 2 couples who follow in the Peter Wimsey/Harriet Vane tradition. Thomas Lynley/Lady Helen and Meredith Mitchell/Alan Markby each have slowly developing relationships which consist of pursuit, rebuff and more pursuit before they finally come together. In both cases, the man is the pursuer and the woman is the somewhat reluctant object of desire. I’m not sure how realistic that part is, but I do like the fact that these relationships have problems and obstacles that need to be overcome and that some of the problems persist even after the couples finally agree to marry or do marry.
Martin Edwards said,
December 23, 2008 at 11:07 pm
I agree with your view of Trent’s importance. I think the Wimsey-Vane romance may be my favourite, partly because it introduced something fresh into the genre, a relationship developed over the course of several intriguing books.
Dawn said,
September 1, 2009 at 11:40 pm
What a fun question. How about John (Smythe) Tregarth in the Vicky Bliss books by Elizabeth Peters? John’s not so much a detective as a thief, but he is utterly irresistible. Like Lord Peter, he’s often quoting John Donne, and he’s a marvelous confection.