Meny

Literary figures

Sample of literary figures

  • Fredrik Beier

    Male

    A Norwegian police detective who struggles against anxiety and guilty feelings after the youngest of his three children has died. His wife, Alice, left him for another man – but author Ingar Johnsrud reveals that Fredrik Beier still has a sexual relationship with her despite having acquired a new girlfriend, Bettina. He is around 50 years old, thin with streaks of grey in his hair, and has a narrow moustache.

    Further reading

  • Anders Knutas

    Male

    A detective inspector of thirty years, Knutas is working for the Visby police on the Swedish island of Gotland in a series of books by Mari Jungstedt. Knutas is in his fifties, he is experienced, cautious and detailed in his investigations. He was married to a Danish midwife, Line. They have two children, twins, that in the most recent books are adults. He is devastated by his and Line’s divorce.

    Further reading

  • Tommy Beresford

    Male

    The red-headed Thomas ‘Tommy’ Beresford is something of an unimaginative but stubborn Englishman, who took part in the First World War and was wounded twice. He subsequently married his childhood friend Prudence ‘Tuppence’ Cowley, and they have two children and adopt a third. Together, the couple solve a number of cases with good humour and entertaining dialogues in four novels and a collection of short stories by Agatha Christie.

    Further reading

  • Harriet Vane

    Female

    At the age of 29, crime writer Harriet Vane stands trial accused of having poisoned her lover. She is shown to be innocent by Lord Peter Wimsey, who falls in love with her and then in some of Dorothy L. Sayers’ novels courts the independent Vane. She participates in his investigations, but is not interested in a more intimate relationship with him. Eventually, however, she gives in, they get married and have three sons.

    Further reading