Sample of literary figures
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Maria Kallio
Female
She was only 23 when she got her first job with the police, but she has worked her way up to a senior post in the criminal investigation department in the Finnish town of Esbo. She has also grown older in Leena Lehtolainen’s books about her, got married to Antti Johannes Sarkela and had children. With her red hair and in good physical condition, Mario Kallio is a tough (and if necessary even harsh) feminist who appreciates a good whisky – in reasonable measures.
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Mikael Blomkvist
Male
The journalist Carl Mikael Blomkvist was born in Borlänge, but he lives in Stockholm. He was nicknamed Kalle Blomkvist (for a child detective created by Astrid Lindgren), after he solved a series of bank robberies. He is one of the main characters in Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy and the official sequel. Blomkvist is editor-in-chief at <i>Millennium</i> magazine and collaborates with his rebellious punk friend Lisbeth Salander.
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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.
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Kristina Vendel
Female
Female detective inspector with the police in Huddinge, Stockholm. Her father had fled from East Germany to Sweden; Kristina Vendel’s marriage to Johan is in trouble and eventually breaks up. She has light hair, grey-green eyes, and studied Philosophy before she started at Police College. She has a tough time at work, and is often abused in several ways, Theodor Kallifatides tells us.