Meny

Literary figures

Sample of literary figures

  • Richard Hannay

    Male

    He was born in Scotland, learnt German from his father’s business friends, but grew up in South Africa. He was a soldier in the Boer War, but moved back to England in 1914, and was drawn into the first of the adventures that John Buchan wrote about him. Richard Hanney was a spy in the First World War, but subsequently married Mary Lamington, had a son called Peter John, and became a farmer.

    Further reading

  • Derek Strange

    Male

    Former police officer who has made a career change and become a private detective in a suite of novels by George P. Pelecanos. He is well-built, with grey hair and beard, and loves music. He has a sporadic relationship with his assistant Janine Baker, and is a ‘reserve dad’ for her son, Lionel. Derek Strange lives alone with his dog, Greco, a boxer. He is sometimes greatly helped by another former police officer, Terry Quinn.

    Further reading

  • Kate Brannigan

    Female

    Kate Brannigan is a private detective at Mortensen & Brannigan in Manchester. According to the author, Val McDermid, she dropped out of law school. Brannigan is a tough, quick-witted, independent woman with a great deal of integrity. She refuses to move in with her music journalist partner who lives next-door. She never gives up a case, not even when all the odds are against her.

    Further reading

  • Sam Kovac

    Male

    Tough, middle-aged police officer in Minneapolis, who doesn’t like following rules and regulations, but is still a competent policeman, claims author Tami Hoag. He is especially successful when he gets the younger, quick-thinking Nikki Liska as a colleague, and when they are forced to work each on their own, they both feel dissatisfied. Sam Kovac has two marriages behind him, and lives so totally for his work, that he doesn’t even clean his flat…

    Further reading