Meny

Sample of literary figures

  • George Smiley

    Male

    He is rather fat, has been said to liken a toad, and is married to the beautiful and forever unfaithful Lady Ann Sercombe. Besides which, George Smiley is a lethal agent with the British Secret Service in a suite of novels by John Le Carré. Before retiring, he also becomes the director of the secret service. In some of the early books, he is however more active as a detective.

    Further reading

  • Cal Weaver

    Male

    However many problems you have, author Linwood Barclay lets his private detective and former police officer, Cal Weaver, have it even worse. His son, Scott, dies in what is presumed to be suicide, and when he tries to find out what has happened, he becomes a suspect for the murder of a girl. Later, his wife, Donna, is shot dead. He is middle-aged, worn out and depressed, but despite all his setbacks is an effective investigator.

    Further reading

  • Embla Nystrom

    Female

    Former Nordic champion boxer (light welterweight), now a county police officer in the west of Sweden. She is about 30 years old and muscular, with curly reddish-brown hair and blue-green eyes in a somewhat round face: cute but not pretty, according to her creator Helene Tursten. Having grown up with three brothers, Embla Nystrom knows how to put lads in their place. The man in her life is little Elliot, the son of her ex-husband Jason.

    Further reading

  • Tom Reynolds

    Male

    A friendly, calm and humorous police detective in Dublin, who leads the investigations into brutal murders in books by Jo Spain. He is between 40 and 50 years old, with a slightly crooked nose and black hair going grey, and he is happily married to Louise: they have a daughter together, Maria, who is not entirely without problems. Tom Reynolds’ personality is based on the author’s husband, Martin, who is a journalist, however, not a police officer.

    Further reading