Meny

Sample of literary figures

  • Philip Dryden

    Male

    He left his job as a star reporter when his wife, Laura, ends up in a coma after an accident. Instead, Philip Dryden becomes as an investigative crime reporter on the little local newspaper <i>The Crow</i> in the country town of Ely. Laura slowly wakes up from her coma, and they have a son Eden. Jim Kelly describes his problem-solver as almost 190 cm tall, with green eyes and black hair. His best friend is the taxi driver Humphrey Holt.

    Further reading

  • Terry Quinn

    Male

    When he worked as a police officer, he accidentally killed a colleague. As a result, the green-eyed Irishman Terry Quinn left the police force and instead got a job in a shop in Silver Spring, Maryland, which sells second-hand paperbacks and vinyl records. However, he also does some extra work as an active assistant to another former policeman, Derek Strange, who is now a private detective, in books by George P. Pelecanos.

    Further reading

  • Cordelia Gray

    Female

    A young private detective in only two novels by P.D. James; many readers have complained that there weren’t any more. She grew up with her foster parents – her mother died an hour after the birth of her daughter – and as an adult became the secretary to the private detective Bernie G. Pryde. When he died of cancer, Cordelia Gray inherited his agency. She is attractive, but despite her successes she is – deep inside – unsure of herself.

    Further reading

  • John Dortmunder

    Male

    He is one of the most cunning thieves in the USA: he carefully plans the most fantastic coups, and has only been caught twice when he was young. Unfortunately, John Archibald Dortmunder is dogged with bad luck: his ingenious plans often go wrong at the last moment for the most incredible reasons. His adventures are described in more than a dozen entertaining – often farcical – novels by Donald E. Westlake.

    Further reading