Meny

Literary figures

Sample of literary figures

  • Lisa Mattei

    Female

    In 2005, Leif G.W. Persson wrote about the young detective inspector Lisa Mattei; ten years later, she is a middle-aged operations manager for the Swedish security services. She made a rapid career, but has a bad conscience because she rarely has time to be with her family, her husband Johan and her daughter Ella. She has private means, and is something of a connoisseur when it comes to clothes, for example. But she is also a gifted and skilful police officer.

    Further reading

  • Sebastian Bergman

    Male

    He was a popular person, respected as a forensic psychologist and regarded as Sweden’s foremost expert on criminal profiling – until he lost his wife and daughter in a natural catastrophe. Then he stopped working, became a sex-addict and generally inaccessible. Sebastian Bergman has, however, reluctantly thawed and allowed himself to be tempted back to his work by Hans Rosenfeldt and Michael Hjorth.

    Further reading

  • Temperance Brennan

    Female

    Middle-aged but well-preserved and internationally renowned forensic anthropologist, who (in Kathy Reichs’ novels) works in Canada and the USA, as well as other countries. In the first book, Temperance ‘Tempe’ Brennan is newly divorced and a sober alcoholic. Important people in her life are her daughter Kate, who goes to college, police detective Andrew Ryan, with whom she has an on-and-off relationship, and her sister Harriet.

    Further reading

  • Cordelia Gray

    Female

    A young private detective in only two novels by P.D. James; many readers have complained that there weren’t any more. She grew up with her foster parents – her mother died an hour after the birth of her daughter – and as an adult became the secretary to the private detective Bernie G. Pryde. When he died of cancer, Cordelia Gray inherited his agency. She is attractive, but despite her successes she is – deep inside – unsure of herself.

    Further reading