Which Detective Do You Pick to Prove Your Innocence?
Supposing you were unjustly arrested for a crime. Which detective would you hire to prove your innocence? Would you pick a professional PI like Spenser or Nero Wolfe or Kinsey Milhone? A gifted amateur like Lord Peter Wimsey or Albert Campion? Would your answer be different for different crimes?
For myself, I think I’d choose Lord Peter. No matter what the crime, he would get me off. And it would be such fun to hear him talk “piffle”!
Karen Bevers said,
February 10, 2009 at 7:19 pm
I’d pick John Tanner – partly because I’d like to think if I got it trouble I’d be in San Francisco and partly because I would like to think it would bring him out of retirement to work again.
KarenB
Diane Carney said,
February 10, 2009 at 9:58 pm
I would pick Spenser. I just finished reading his latest adventure. He is so clever and self-assured, plus he has so many contacts in the police and FBI. In addition, who could resist spending time with Hawk and Pearl, the wonder dog. The combo would certainly solve any mystery and have me home free in no time. ( input from Susan would also be a plus)
Diane
Theresa de Valence said,
February 11, 2009 at 12:03 am
Well I was always in love with Lord Peter and Archie Goodwin –but to get me off the hook? I don’t know. Maybe Miss Marple.
L.J. Sellers said,
February 11, 2009 at 6:04 am
Nero Wolf was my first detective, and I can’t let go of the idea that he’s the most brilliant. Currently, I’m a great fan of Lucas Davenport, so it would be a toss-up between the two.
Clare said,
February 11, 2009 at 9:33 pm
I’d go with Hercule Poirot. He doesn’t need forensic evidence (just in case there wasn’t any), is very good at getting information out of people and is wise and reassuring. Plus, I think that he and Captain Hastings would be fun to have around.
Kaye Barley said,
February 12, 2009 at 3:29 pm
I’d have to say I would agree with a friend of mine who said he would hire Spenser, because he almost always comes with Hawk.
Me too! Same reason!
OR
Chief Inspector Armand Gamache because after he got things sorted, maybe
he’d take me to Three Pines for a little visit.
OR
Linda Fairstein’s Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace.
OR
Wait! Reacher!!!!! He’d make things right! Right?!
this is a tough one.
Jonathan Quist said,
February 12, 2009 at 4:08 pm
If I were in mortal danger, I’d have to say Goldy Schultz.
She may not keep me from dying, but she’ll bring something chocolate that will have me halfway to heaven first.
If I were merely incarcerated, she’d keep the jailors well-fed and happy, and perhaps better disposed to my, er, disposition.
Clyde Linsley said,
February 12, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Initially, I thought I’d go with Spenser. Spenser has a knack for encountering attractive, sex-starved women whom he always rejects because he’s loyal to Susan. I figured I might be in a position to pick up some leftovers.
But I’ve had second thoughts. Spenser seems to call in Hawk whenever the going gets tough, and the women always glom onto Hawk I couldn’t compete with Hawk. I couldn’t even compete with Urkel.
Still, after Spenser saved my butt, maybe one of Hawk’s leftovers would be interested . . .
Marlyn said,
February 12, 2009 at 4:36 pm
Since this is completely an ideal choice, I’d choose Alan Banks, because
we could listen to some great music while investigating.
But, it might be easier to empathize with a woman, in which case I’d choose
either Laura Fleming or Meg Lanslow because they both have temperaments
similar to mine, and I think we’d get along well.
Diane L. said,
February 12, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Reacher, definitely Reacher!
Annette Mahon said,
February 12, 2009 at 5:37 pm
When faced with the “which detective would you chose” question, I thought of Spenser immediately. He’s moral and really believes in his clients, so he sticks with the case even when things get tough. I also like the way he’ll work with the police on things. So many fiction PIs won’t cooperate with the police at all.
Abbey said,
February 12, 2009 at 6:50 pm
Agatha Christie’s “Tommy & Tuppence” or Kerry Greenwood’s “Phryne Fisher”
heck, if I’m gonna be in trouble, I might as well have a good time too…!
PI-types?
Jim Butcher’s “Harry Dresden” – whatEVER it is that’s out to get me, I figure he can cope! plus I’d like Spencer for backup…. (yes, both do rate extremely highly on my Hunk-o-meter, but of course that didn’t have anything to do with my choices…)
Legal Eagle?
Bill Tapply’s “Brady Coyne” or, for the really “delicate” stuff, “Kevin Lomax”, from The Devil’s Advocate
I never, obviously, can choose, though! So I’d go with whoever seemed to have the best chance of, or was most acustomed to, solving whichever kind of crime I’m accused of.
Jen Wendel said,
February 12, 2009 at 6:50 pm
I would take the bus to L. A. and look up Elvis Cole (Robert Crais creation). He would be sure to get me out of any kind of trouble. I might get to meet his sidekick, Joe Pike. At first, I thought of going into hiding with Joe Pike but on second thought, maybe we could go roller skating.
caryn said,
February 12, 2009 at 11:36 pm
While agree with the Reacher for the possible eye candy motive and
Spenser to get Hawk, I seriously doubt that in my fairly mundane life
that I would ever have need of that sort of muscle. No, I think I
would need clever-maybe Hercule Poirot or potentially sneaky-maybe
Kinsey Milhone. Shoot, probably Joe Grey tha cat could cover my needs!
Gina Gilmore said,
February 12, 2009 at 11:46 pm
Ranger.
And he can bring in Morelli for back up.
And if they don’t solve my case, at least I’ll really enjoy looking at them.
But if Stephanie shows up, she is NOT getting near my car. UH UH.
Neil Plakcy said,
February 12, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Which private eye would I want to hire? I’m torn between three, now that I read Jen Wendel’s idea. Kinsey Millhone is dogged and determined, and Elvis Cole is fun to be around. But Anthony Bidulka’s Saskatchewan-based (but world traveling) Russell Quant is all three of those, and cute, too. (Yeah, Elvis is cute, but he’s straight.)
Jan Kozlowski said,
February 13, 2009 at 2:17 am
My preferences would be for the more unconventional, under the radar
guys…Burke, Repairman Jack and even though he’s not technically a
detective, I would certainly want Skink on my side if I were ever falsely
accused of a crime.
janis watson said,
February 13, 2009 at 1:47 pm
You know, it’s a real pleasure to be asked a question I can answer with
no hesitation whatsoever. I would choose Spenser. First of all, Spenser
doesn’t take cases he doesn’t believe in, so, if he took my case, I’d feel
that he believed I was telling the truth even though the evidence might make
it seem as if I were guilty. Second, he has such a strong moral center that
I know justice would be served. It might not be served through conventional
institutions, such as the legal system, but it would be served. Third, I
know that he would never give up trying to prove my innocence. Fourth, I
know that he never backs down from a fight, even when the odds are stacked
against him. Fifth, I adore all his sidekicks. They might not have the same
intellectual ability as Spenser, but they have something perhaps even
more important: loyalty. They trust Spenser to cover their backs the same
way they cover his. It’s that sense of connection that makes them team
players, even though they couldn’t be more different.
And no, my choice wouldn’t depend on which crime I was accused of. I assume
Spenser would know exactly who he needed to help him prove my innocence and
would take care of the matter.
Star said,
February 13, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Spenser? Not for me! Maybe I would get Alex Delaware involved, although
he is a blabby, all-too-flawed psychologist, or Reacher, definitely. He
jumps in and at least removes the problem somehow, if not
always by sterling detection. I also love Dave Robicheaux, despite
his penchant for pitching a hissy and punching someone out. Or
maybe because of this.
By the way, if you feel the urge to break your Spenser habit (though you
probably won’t), get the audio with Joe Mantegna–his “HawK” is so
dreadful, you will be laughing and Hawk will never be the same.
Alice Duncan said,
February 13, 2009 at 2:22 pm
What a fun question! I’d want Nero Wolfe. And, of course, Archie. He’s a smart ass, but he’s also a great dancer, and I loved to dance before my feet gave out. And I still love to cook, even though Mr. Wolfe probably wouldn’t allow me to enter Fritz’s kitchen (also, my maternal grandmother was Swiss!) But what the heck, this is all just in fun, huh?
Viccy Kemp said,
February 13, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Definitely Reacher, if mayhem needed to be committed. Or Harry Dresden, if
magic were involved. Or Phryne Fisher, just so I could learn some style
tips.
Mary Reed said,
February 13, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Miss Marple for me — not just for her deductive powers but also because I really enjoy her little stories about how person X reminds her of person Y, who was usually up to no good too as it turns out.
Jen Forbus said,
February 13, 2009 at 11:04 pm
If it has to be a PI, then my choice would also be Elvis Cole, but if I could include police detectives in the bunch, I’d then choose John Ceepak. His ethics just make him so irrestitable to me. And his humanity. Just love him! Plus, he’s closer proximity-wise to me than Elvis.
Melanie Anton said,
February 17, 2009 at 2:23 am
If I were in trouble I would turn to Donna Leon’s Guido Brunetti. He would make a wonderful meal for me and we’d talk about history. And I’d get to meet his fabulous secretary Elettra.
Lillian Stewart Carl said,
February 20, 2009 at 3:32 pm
My answer would be Hugh Beringar, from Ellis Peters’ Cadfael series, not least because he would bring Cadfael himself along. I’m thinking of the book
Beringar as well as Sean Pertwee’s portrayal of the character in the first four episodes of the PBS dramatizations. I know, physically he didn’t resemble the Beringar of the books, but he caught the book-Beringar’s
quicksilver intelligence and subtle humor while adding a gravity of his own.