Fictional Sleuths and Detectives Quiz

Answer: Martin Cruz Smith

Arkady Renko is a fictional detective who first appeared in the novel "Gorky Park" (1981) by Martin Cruz Smith. Renko has been the central figure in eight of the novels by the American writer. The first three from 1981-1992 were a trilogy culminating in the downfall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Even during Soviet times, Renko exposes corruption and dishonesty, yet maintains a faith in the future.

Answer: Edgar Allan Poe

C. Auguste Dupin is a character who appeared in three of Poe's works "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" (1841), "The Mystery of Marie Rogêt" (1842) and "The Purloined Letter" (1844). "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" is considered to be the very first detective fiction story. Dupin is not a professional detective but goes about solving mysteries in the three stories.

Answer: Arthur Conan Doyle

Inspector Lestrade is a fictional character that appears in thirteen of Sherlock Holmes stories written by Arthur Conan Doyle. The Inspector is considered the best detective in Scotland Yard although his standard of education is not at the same level as Sherlock Holmes or Dr. Watson. Holmes allows Lestrade to take the credit for many of the cases that Holmes solves.

Answer: Stuart Palmer

Hildegarde Withers was an amateur sleuth very similar to Miss Marple of Agatha Christie fame. Hildegarde Withers appeared in 18 novels or short stories by Stuart Palmer from 1931-2002. Withers was a spinster and occupational teacher who wore unusual hats and carried a black cotton umbrella as her trademark.

There were six screen adaptions of her in the 1930s starring Edna May Oliver in the first three. Agnes Moorehead (1950) and Eve Arden (1972) also played Hildegarde Withers in television productions.

Answer: Sam Eastland

Inspector Pekkala appears in a number of Sam Eastland's novels. Pekkala is Finnish by birth and worked for the Tsar Nicholas II of Russia as an inspector. After the Russian Revolution, he was imprisoned by the Bolsheviks and sentenced to Siberia. However, in 1929 he is summoned by Stalin to continue his work as an inspector.

His task to obtain complete freedom is to find out who killed the Tsar and his family and also to find their treasure. "The Eye of the Red Tsar" is the first of Eastland's novels that the character Inspector Pekkala is the principle figure. Throughout all the novels Pekkala's first name is never mentioned.

Answer: Rex Stout

The character Nero Wolfe was created by Rex Stout in 1934. Wolfe is an armchair detective with an able assistant in Archie Goodwin. Wolfe resides in a luxurious brownstone on West 35th Street, New York. Archie Goodwin is the narrator in all of the Nero Wolfe stories. Wolfe is a very big man, weighing between 310-390 pounds and likes fine wine, fine food, the best in clothing and does very little exercise.

The character Nero Wolfe has also appeared on radio and film.

Answer: Agatha Christie

Detective Chief Inspector James Japp was created by Agatha Christie and he appears in seven novels featuring Hercule Poirot. He is a very competent detective but is no match for Poirot. He always seems a step behind the great man when solving mysteries, however, he does have a great respect for Poirot.

Answer: Philip Kerr

Bernie Gunther is a tough-talking detective created by the English writer Philip Kerr. Bernie Gunther appears in over 10 Kerr novels. Bernie is a former German soldier and ex-cop who fought in WWI. He lost his wife in 1918 and during the 1920s he finds himself as a private detective looking for missing persons. Bernie dislikes the Third Reich but manages to survive during the Nazi era of the 1930s and 40s. We see Bernie investigating situations on the Eastern Front, post WWII in Germany and during the Cold War.

Answer: Sara Paretsky

Victoria Iphigenia "Vic" Warshawski is a fictional private investigator created by Sara Paretsky. "Vic" as she is known by her friends is the daughter of an Italian mother and Polish father, who was a Chicago police officer. Vic became a reckless teenager shortly after her mothers death but managed to go to the University of Chicago on a sports scholarship.

She obtained a law degree, was a public defender for a short period and then became a private detective. Her specialty was solving white collar crime.

She keeps herself in great physical condition, a good street fighter and carries a Smith & Wesson semi-automatic pistol.

Answer: S. S. Van Dine

Philo Vance is a lover of the arts but is also an amateur private detective. Philo Vance is an American and appeared in 12 crime novels by S.S. Van Dine from 1926-1939. Vance is depicted as a sophisticated intellectual and a stylish dandy. He has an aristocratic background and holds himself above the common man.

He has expert skills in many formats including golf, fencing, polo and is highly intelligent. Philo Vance appeared on the silver screen in 15 films from 1929-47 and his character was portrayed by such classic actors as William Powell, Basil Rathbone and Wilfrid Hyde-White.