Meny

Sample of literary figures

  • Harry Kvist

    Male

    An odd character and an amateur detective: an ex-boxer and prison inmate who works as a debt-collector, is bi-sexual and drinks too much. The setting is Stockholm in the 1930s in a trio of novels by Martin Holmén. Harry Kvist is single, with few friends (but a lot of acquaintances), not particularly bright, but well-built, and he all too often uses his fists when trouble arises.

    Further reading

  • Nero Wolfe

    Male

    Nero Wolfe is one of the largest detectives in crime fiction – he weighs almost 150 kilos. Wolfe loves food, orchids and books. Created by Rex Stout, he is a classic crime fiction detective that lives in a New York brownstone. Rumour has it that he is Sherlock Holmes’s son. He has roots in Montenegro and at his side is his trusted secretary, Archie Goodwin, who makes sure that he stays on the job.

    Further reading

  • Jason Bourne

    Male

    David Webb was a professional killer and spy when he suffers a total loss of memory after a mission. The CIA quickly changed his name to Jason Bourne, and have used him for several missions of a not particularly honourable nature. His wife was killed in a bombing, but his sons survived – which he didn’t know at first. Robert Ludlum wrote the first books about him, after which he was taken over by other writers.

    Further reading

  • Endeavour Morse

    Male

    Detective Chief Inspector Morse, who operates in Oxford, is one of the most popular detectives of 20th century crime fiction. Several television productions have been based on Colin Dexter’s Morse books. Morse is deeply human, but he is not without faults and is sometimes rude to his sergeant, Lewis, another important character. But he is an astute detective who solves crime in an academic setting.

    Further reading