Meny

Sample of literary figures

  • Robin Ellacott

    Female

    A long-legged blonde woman with long hair and blue-green eyes, first secretary and later assistant to private detective Cormoran Strike i London. She has a similarly long-lasting yet ambivalent relationship with her future husband Matthew Cunliffe, who wants her to get a different job. Author Robert Galbraith (pseudonym for J.K. Rowling) reveals that Robin Ellacott has more than friendly feelings for Strike.

    Further reading

  • John Madden

    Male

    Scotland Yard detective John Madden suffered from an explosion during the First World War, but nevertheless in 1921 still solves the murder of four persons in the Surrey countryside. After that, he and his wife, Dr Helen Blackwell, settle as farmers in Surrey, but for various reasons Madden nevertheless takes part in investigations of several brutal murders in England during the Thirties and Forties in a suite of novels by Rennie Airth.

    Further reading

  • Bjørn Beltø

    Male

    Norwegian archaeologist, who solves mysteries with religious connections in a suite of novels by Tom Egeland. Bjørn Beltø is just over 30 years old and is an albino, which means that he has poor vision and pale skin. He is single and finds it hard to get relationships to work, despite certain women being interested in him. He periodically suffers from anxiety, and then prefers to sit at home and listen to classical music.

    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