Sleuthing (See also Crime Fighting.) Allusions, Definition, Citation, Reference, Information - Allusion to Sleuthing (See also Crime Fighting.)


  1. Alleyn, Inspector detective in Ngaio Marsh’s many mystery stories. [New Zealand Lit.: Harvey, 520]
  2. Archer, Lew tough solver of brutal crimes. [Am. Lit.: Herman, 94–96]
  3. Brown, Father Chesterton’s priest and amateur detective. [Br. Lit.: Herman, 20–21]
  4. Bucket, Inspector shrewd detective solves a murder and uncovers Lady Dedlock’s past. [Br. Lit.: Bleak House in Benét, 144]
  5. Campion, Albert unpretentious cerebral detective. [Br. Lit.: Herman, 31–33]
  6. Carrados, Max blind detective in stories by Ernest Bramah. [Br. Lit.: Barnhart, 159]
  7. Carter, Nick turn-of-the-century flatfoot. [Radio: “Nick Carter, Master Detective” in Buxton, 173-174]
  8. Chan, Charlie imperturbable Oriental gumshoe. [Am. Lit.: Her-man, 36–37; Comics: Horn, 165–166]
  9. Charles, Nick urbane and witty private detective. [Am. Lit.: The Thin Man]
  10. Clouseau, Inspector Jacques bungling French detective; inexplicably and with great asininity gets his man. [Am. Cinema: “The Pink Panther”]
  11. Columbo untidy, cigar-smoking mastermind. [TV: “NBC Mystery Movie” in Terrace, II, 141]
  12. Cuff, Sergeant first detective in English fiction. [Br. Lit.: The Moonstone in Benét, 683]
  13. Drew, Nancy teenage girl supersleuth. [Children’s Lit.: The Hidden Staircase]
  14. Drummond, Bulldog patriotic Englishman, hero of stories by Sapper. [Br. Lit.: Payton, 108]
  15. Dupin, Auguste ratiocinative solver of unsolvable crimes. [Am. Lit.: Poe “The Murders in the Rue Morgue”; “The Mystery of Marie Roget”; “The Purloined Letter”]
  16. Fell, Dr. Gideon fat, astute detective in John Dickson Carr’s mysteries. [Am. Lit.: Benét, 170]
  17. Fosdick, Fearless square-jawed, low-paid detective of question-able expertise and unquestionable obtuseness. [Comics: “Li’l Abner” in Horn, 450]
  18. Hardy Boys teenagers solve crimes and mysteries with detective father. [Children’s Lit.: Clue in the Embers; Twisted Claw; Tower Treasure]
  19. Hawkshaw implacable detective with photographic memory. [Br. Lit.: The Ticket-of-Leave Man, Barnhart, 546]
  20. Holmes, Sherlock the great detective; famous for deductive reasoning. [Br. Lit.: Payton, 316]
  21. inverness coat with cape; emblem of Sherlock Holmes. [Br. Costume and Lit.: Espy, 267]
  22. Lane, Drury Barney Ross’s deaf ex-actor and amateur detective. [Am. Lit.: Herman, 105]
  23. Lecoq, Monsieur meticulous detective; pride of French Sureté. [Fr. Lit.: Monsieur Lecoq]
  24. Lestrade bungling Scotland Yard foil to Sherlock Holmes. [Br. Lit.: Payton, 387]
  25. Lupin, Arsène murderer turned detective. [Fr. Lit.: Herman, 20]
  26. magnifying glass traditional detective equipment; from its use by Sherlock Holmes. [Br. Lit.: Payton, 473]
  27. Maigret, Inspector studiously precise detective; bases his work solidly on police methods. [Fr. Lit.: Herman, 114]
  28. Mannix private eye with unorthodox style. [TV: Terrace, II, 62]
  29. Marlowe, Philip hard-boiled but engaging private eye. [Am. Lit.: The Big Sleep; Farewell, My Lovely; The Long Goodbye]
  30. Marple, Miss sweet old lady, tougher than she seems. [Br. Lit.: Herman, 51–55]
  31. Mason, Perry attorney busier with detection than law. [Am. Lit.: Herman, 71–74]
  32. Mayo, Asey the “codfish Sherlock.” [Am. Lit.: Herman, 122–124]
  33. McGee, Travis tough private eye and tougher private avenger. [Am. Lit.: Herman, 92–94]
  34. Moto, Mr. clever Japanese detective. [Am. Cin.: Halliwell, 494]
  35. Pinkertons famous detective agency; founded in 1850. [Am. Hist.: Jameson, 392]
  36. Poirot, Hercule brainy, dandified genius in Christie mysteries. [Br. Lit.: Herman, 51–55]
  37. Pollifax, Mrs. redoubtable widow joins the C.I.A. [Am. Lit.: A Palm for Mrs. Pollifax]
  38. Pudd’nhead Wilson lawyer uses fingerprint evidence to win his client’s acquittal and expose the true murderer. [Am. Lit.: Mark Twain Pudd’nhead Wilson; Benét, 824]
  39. Queen, Ellery dilettantish private investigator. [Am. Lit.: Her-man, 105]
  40. Rabbi, the Rabbi David Small solves crimes using his Talmudic training. [Am. Lit.: Friday the Rabbi Slept Late]
  41. Saint, the dashing diviner of knotty puzzles. [Radio: Buxton, 206; TV: Terrace, II, 264]
  42. Spade, Sam hard-boiled private eye. [Am. Lit.: Herman, 79–82]
  43. Strangeways, Nigel urbane solver of intricate crimes. [Br. Lit.: Herman, 37–38]
  44. Thatcher, John Putnam charming, civilized, urbane detective. [Am. Lit.: Herman, 86–87]
  45. Tibbs, Virgil California’s brilliant, black detective. [Am. Lit.: In the Heat of the Night]
  46. Tracy, Dick square-chinned detective of police comic strip. [Comics: Horn, 206]
  47. Vance, Philo impressively learned, polished, and urbane detective. [Am. Lit.: Herman, 22, 126–127]
  48. Wimsey, Lord Peter Shakespeare-quoting gentleman turned amateur detective. [Br. Lit.: Herman, 113–114]
  49. Wolfe, Nero corpulent, lazy, but persevering crime-solver. [Am. Lit.: Herman, 119–122]