Detectives are investigators, either as private detectives or private investigators or members of a police agency. The private investigators are also known as Private Eyes, Private I’s or P.I.s.

Famous Detectives in Fiction

Famous detectives in fiction have entertained people for almost two centuries. The most famous detective in fiction is for sure Sherlock Holmes.

Some of the world’s most famous fictional detectives are Hercule Poirot, Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe. But don’t forget fictional detectives in plays, movies and books like Miss Marple, Jim Rockford or Columbo.

This website tells you more about famous detectives in fiction: the facts, what they did and who created them. Famous detectives can be classified into the following categories:

Private Investigators

Private Investigators

Famous fictional private detectives like Thomas Magnum or Sherlock Holmes.

Police Detectives

Police Detectives

Famous fictional police detectives like Inspector Columbo or Dick Tracy.

Amateur Detectives

Amateur Detectives

Famous fictional amateur detectives like Miss Marple or Father Brown.
Medical / Forensic Examiners

Medical / Forensic Examiners

Famous fictional examiners like Dr. Quincy or Temperance Brennan.
Police Detectives

Other Investigators

Famous fictional investigators like Perry Mason or Aloysius Pendergast.

TV Detectives

TV Detectives

Famous fictional tv detectives from the 1940s to 1960s like Mike Barnett.
Real Detectives

Real Detectives

Famous real detectives like Allen Pinkerton or Francois Vidocq.

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