Characters In Current Works Of Fiction Quiz

Answer: Robert Crais

This pair are outrageously great. We meet Elvis Cole and Joe Pike in 1987 in Crais' "The Monkey's Raincoat". Cole, the main character in this novel is a Corvette driving PI in LA. His friend Joe Pike finally takes the clear lead in "The Watchman" published in 2007. Pike is a mysterious and quiet character. Both of these characters are well drawn and entertaining. You know that they are honorable men and great friends.

Not unlike Robert Parker's Spenser and his Hawk or, dare I say, Ralph Kramden and Ed Norten from the old TV show "The Honeymooners" these men are memorable as individuals but even better as a pair.

Answer: J.D. Robb

J.D. Robb is the nom de plume of Nora Roberts who is known for her best selling romance novels. This prolific author has created Eve Dallas, a NYC police lieutenant now married to one of the richest men in the world. The stories occur in the years 2050-60.

The series began with the book "Naked in Death" published in 1995. Eve's story starts in Dallas, Texas where we learn that at the age of eight she has killed her abusive father. Her hard core, take charge manner and her loyalty to her job and those she works with are matched with her love of the handsome Roarke and her hard earned friendships.

She certainly has the luck of the Irish with her in all of the books in this on-going "Death" series.

Answer: Lincoln Town Car

Mickey is a lawyer who is very down on his luck. We first meet him in the book "The Lincoln Lawyer". This twice divorced lawyer works out of his Lincoln Town Car defending a number of diverse individuals. Somewhat of an idealist, Mickey works in the shadow of his deceased father who was a superstar lawyer.

His dealings with Harry Bosch (another Michael Connelly protagonist), his ex-wives and his daughter make for good reading. Mickey is a character you can relate to.

Answer: Stieg Larsson

Stieg Larsson created Lisbeth Salander, a tortured, bi-sexual, complex woman. At times you are horrified for her and at other times horrified by her. She appears in "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo", "The Girl Who Played With Fire" and "The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest". These are considered the Millennium Trilogy from the author Larsson, who died in 2004.

Lisbeth is a tattooed, pierced, wisp of a girl with a dark past and a macabre present. Her interactions with the other characters in the books highlight her complexity and vulnerability. She is a character who will haunt you. She is a brilliant hacker, astute detective and a mathematical wizard who uses her talents and a skewed sense of justice to protect herself and those she loves.

Answer: Washington D.C.

This is the third book from Dan Brown where Robert Langdon, the Harvard professor and symbologist plays a leading role. Previously we have been treated to the "Da Vinci Code" and the lights of Paris and "Angels and Demons" and the beauty of Rome. In "The Lost Symbol" we learn about the Masons and their impact on Washington D.C.. Dan Brown's books are history lessons, travelogues and adventures that make a piece of art or architecture a main character in a highly complex story. Dan Brown grew up in New Hampshire.

Answer: John Corey

John Corey is a man's man who also appeals to women. In "The Lion's Game" this retired NYC Detective took on Libyan terrorists. His character is so compelling that we see him appear in a number of De Mille's books. Introduced to him first in "Plum Island", we see he is a smart, quick witted and somewhat laid back individual married to an FBI Agent named Kate.

In "The Lion" he meets up with Asaid Khalil, the Arab he went up against in "The Lion's Game".

Answer: Hieronymus "Harry" Bosch

Harry Bosch is named after the artist Hieronymus Bosch who is best known for the painting "The Garden of Earthly Delights". This painting depicts debauchery and wantonness. Harry, the character dreamt up by Connelly, is a hard working, crusty, jazz loving LAPD cop who does not always play by the rules. True to his famous name, you can count on Harry to get involved with the wrong people doing very bad things. Connelly also develops Bosch's character in books where he is not the main focus but plays an integral part such as "The Lincoln Lawyer" with the character Mickey Haller. You may also see Bosch interact with figures from other contemporary mystery writers books such as Elvis Cole in Robert Crais' novel "The Last Detective".

Answer: Lee Child

Lee Child has written about Reacher at least 14 times. He has drawn this character to be a loner who is always wandering the country until someone calls for him, finds him or wants to kill him. We are introduced to this character in "The Killing Floor" published in 1997. Jack cannot seem to stay out of trouble.

He has a complicated past life and few friends. He follows his own set of rules and his own way of meting out justice. Reacher uses his knowledge of the military and arms to get himself out of sticky situations.

He has a smart mouth, a quick and facile brain and a bit of a tired but athletic body. The 2010 book to feature this character is "61 Hours".

Answer: Stephanie Plum

Stephanie Plum is a smart talking New Jersey girl who cannot seem to stay out of trouble. She really is not a good bounty hunter and therefore seems to need help from a host of friends and family. Stephanie works for Vinnie, her cousin who seems to have a lock on the bailbonds business in the "burg".

The books that feature Stephanie are numbered starting with "One For The Money". This character has been so popular that some ancillary books have been created by Evanovich to augment the series. Enjoy Stephanie as she flits between Ranger and Joe, keeps Grandma Mazur out of trouble and gets advice from Lula while finding killers, thieves, drug dealers and exhibitionists.

Answer: Dexter

Jeff Lindsay debuted the character Dexter Morgan in 2004 in "Darkly Dreaming Dexter". As far as serial killers go he has a heart, after all he only goes after bad guys. As a blood splatter expert for the Miami PD he has first hand knowledge of who the latest bad guys are. With a complicated, dark past this character comes alive in books such as, "Dexter In The Dark", "Dexter By Design", and "Dearly Devoted Dexter". Michael C. Hall plays Dexter on the TV series "Dexter".

This character is so richly drawn and has so many layers that Lindsay has created a vigilante we can love.