The Hound's TOP TEN Crime Fighting Duos from American Fiction
No. 1 Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin
Obese and agoraphobic, Nero Wolfe is an armchair detective from his Manhattan brownstone. The physical investigating is done by his employee, secretary come bodyguard Archie Goodwin, the witty narrator of the stories.
They first appear (1934)
The Hound's pick
Criteria: The following twosomes all appear in crime fiction books predominantly set in the USA.
No. 2 Robert Crais’s Elvis Cole and Joe Pike
Elvis Cole is a smart and tough LA PI who performs yoga, tai chi and tae kwon do, and is as likely to reflect as react. His business partner and ‘sociopathic sidekick’, is the machine-like Joe Pike, a former Marine and ex-cop.
They first appear (1987)
The Hound's pick
No. 3 S J Rozan's Lydia Chin and Bill Smith
New York PI Bill Smith is a rumpled, middle-aged cynic who's lives alone above a bar. His younger sometime partner/associate is Lydia Chin, a native New Yorker, Chinatown Chinese, who is full of optimism and energy.
They first appear (1990)
The Hound's pick
No. 5 James Lee Burke’s Dave Robicheaux and Cletus Purcell
A man of honour and courage, Robicheaux is a Vietnam vet-turned police detective who works out of New Orleans. His best pal is the hot-blooded, tortured, hulking Cletus Purcell, a violent, alcoholic ex-cop and PI/bail-bondsman.
They first appear (1987)
The Hound's pick
No. 4 Jeffery Deaver’s Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs
Lincoln Rhyme is a Forensic Consultant with the NYPD. The former Homicide Detective is a quadriplegic so it’s his rookie partner Amelia Sachs that walks the crime scenes under his expert guidance.
They first appear (1997)
The Hound's pick
No. 6 Robert B Parker Spenser and Hawk
Former state cop, soldier, and boxer, Spenser is a ‘professional thug’, using his gut reactions and smart mouth to try and help people. Hawk is a creature of control, an enforcer, often paid to hurt.
They first appear (1976)
The Hound's pick
No. 7 Walter Mosley’s 'Easy' Rollins & Raymond 'Mouse' Alexander
Easy Rollins is a flawed, socially conscious fighter for justice. His loyal sidekick and lifelong friend Mouse is violent to the point of being a psychopath. He's unpredictable and will kill a man as soon as look at them.
They first appear in a prequel
The Hound's pick
No. 8 A A Fair’s Bertha Cool and Donald Lam
Bertha Cool is the tough middle-aged owner of a detective agency. The overweight widow takes a partner in her business, Donald Lam. He’s a small, nervy, ingenious, disbarred lawyer. Scared and scrawny he’s the opposite to Cool.
They first appear (1938)
The Hound's pick
No. 9 Dennis Lehane’s Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro
Working out of an old church belfry, long-time friends and occasional lovers Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro are blue-collar PIs familiar with South Boston’s tough working-class neighbourhoods and ghettos.
They first appear (1994)
The Hound's pick
No. 10 Chester Himes’ Grave Digger Jones & Coffin Ed Johnson
Harlem cops "Coffin Ed" Johnson and “Grave Digger” Jones are corrupt, vicious NYPD cops. Both use violence and intimidation. Their nicknames are a result of the respect they receive in Harlem.
They first appear (1957)
The Hound's pick
Also enjoyed and recommended:
Harlan Coben’s Myron Bolitar and Windsor Horne Lockwood III
Tess Gerritsen’s Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles
Andrew Klavan’s Scott Weiss and Jim Bishop
Joe R Lansdale’s Hap Collins and Leonard Pine
Lawrence Block’s Chip Harrison and Leo Haig
Dashiell Hammett's Nick and Nora Charles
David Baldacci's Will Robie and Jessica Reel
Cleve F Adams’s Violet McDade and Nevada Alvarado
Dave Zeltserman’s Julius Katz and Archie Smith
Melodie Johnson's Howe Claire Conrad and Maggie Hill
If you can think of a glaring omission from my list, please contact me.