Meny

Literary figures

Sample of literary figures

  • John Puller

    Male

    His father is a legendary general, his mother disappeared when he was little, and his brother was put in prison for betraying his country. According to David Baldacci, John Puller is a mountain of man, and also the best criminal investigator in the American army. He has a good physique, is handsome and irrepressible when he seeks the truth. He has temporary relationships with various women, including the Pentagon general Julie Carson.

    Further reading

  • Vesper Johnson

    Male

    Detective Inspector Vesper Johnson is a unique, and very entertaining, character. He is vain with a “beaver” face and rakish moustache; he wears high heels and dyes his hair. Johnson solves crime in a string of novels by Stieg Trenter in which the protagonist is the photographer Harry Friberg. After Trenter’s death, his wife Ulla continued to write her own books about Friberg and Johnson.

    Further reading

  • Barlach

    Male

    Although he only features in two (short) novels by Friedrich Dürrenmatt, Inspector Barlach – no first name is ever mentioned – is one of the most famous policemen in literature. He is old, worn out and unmarried, works in the police force in Bern and has stomach cancer, which he knows will lead to his death within a year. With his great knowledge of human nature and his intuition, he works on his investigations.

    Further reading

  • Jean-Baptiste Adamsberg

    Male

    Adamsberg is a Paris detective inspector. His pace is slow, he is contemplative, he is well acquainted with the human character, he relies on his intuition, and he solves every case he is confronted with. These are generally full of mysteries, but Adamsberg’s unorthodox methods and competent colleagues are a great help to him. Adamsberg is the creation of Fred Vargas, pseudonym for the French author Frédérique Audoin-Rouzeau.

    Further reading