Meny

Literary figures

Sample of literary figures

  • Gideon Fell

    Male

    The enormous Dr Fell, whose physical traits are modelled on G.K. Chesterton, is one of crime fiction’s foremost problem-solvers when it comes to ‘locked-room’ mysteries and other ‘impossible’ crimes. He also works on an ever-growing doctoral thesis about English drinking habits from bygone days, he likes his beer and is married – although his wife is only mentioned in a few of John Dickson Carr’s books about him.

    Further reading

  • Gereon Rath

    Male

    A police detective and war veteran in Köln, who after a fatal mistake in his work in 1929 is transferred to Berlin. According to author Volker Kutscher, Gereon Rath is between 30 and 40 years old, slim, skilled, stubborn and a morphine addict on account of traumatic war experiences. In Berlin he meets police stenographer Charlotte ‘Charly’ Ritter; they start a relationship, get married and build a family.

    Further reading

  • Enzo Macleod

    Male

    British, famous forensic technician of Scottish-Italian heritage. After a trying divorce, he moves to France and is employed as a university teacher. He re-marries, but becomes a widower. Enzo Macleod is middle-aged, heavily built and (according to his creator Peter May) has a complex personality as well as a boorish temperament – which affects his two daughters, one from each marriage.

    Further reading

  • 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.

    Further reading