Dynamic detective duos

In the annals of detective fiction, there have been at least three memorable duos. 

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John H. Watson.

The duo that started it all, Holmes and Watson first appeared in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s A Study in Scarlet.  Their last adventure was in Doyle’s His Last Bow. But in pastiches such as Larry Millet’s Sherlock Holmes novels they keep on sleuthing.

Holmes and Watson cannot be more different. Watson is a good chronicler of his adventures with Holmes but, as Holmes once told him, he “sees but cannot observe” when it comes to deduction. By contrast, Holmes is a pro at deduction. On the flip side of the coin, Holmes is cool and aloof while Watson is warm and friendly.   Nevertheless, they both share a wry sense of humor as well as abundant courage. Two of the many things that have earned them the legendary status they now enjoy. However, it must be pointed out that there is one thing that was not ever said by Holmes to his friend: "Elementary, my dear Watson."

Image courtesy listal.com

Hercule Poirot and Captain Arthur Hastings

Poirot and Hastings first appeared in Agatha Christie’s The Mysterious Affair at Styles. Technically, their last adventure was in Christie’s Curtain. However, since that novel was written to be published posthumously in case Christie died during WWII, their “final” adventure is more of an “alternate ending.” In the main Poirot chronology, he lives on well after World War II. In the last one of these - Elephants Can Remember- Poirot is greying but his “little grey cells” are still fully functional as ever. He exits its pages alive and well. However, his friend Hastings had moved along by then. He marries and moves to Argentina about halfway through the series, last appearing in Dumb Witness. So Poirot’s own “Watson” (Hastings narrates the first books and stories) missed out on being at Poirot’s side for his most famous case: Murder on the Orient Express.

Personality-wise, the two are even more polar opposites than Holmes and Watson were. Poirot’s quirky tics and mannerisms would make even Holmes looks askance, especially his habit of occasionally referring to himself in the third person! Even Sherlock, brilliant to the point of being smug about it, always referred to himself out loud as "I," not "Holmes."

Hastings would make Watson blush with his unabashed amour for pretty women. But, like Watson, Hastings also had trouble seeing what Poirot saw. Both men, however, could agree on matters of justice. Still, married life in Argentina with a red headed beauty won out on adventuring with the quirky Belgian sleuth for Hastings. Poirot still missed him, though. A good friend is worth their weight in gold.

Image courtesy —Friday @ 8/7 Central

Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin

Wolfe and Goodwin first appeared in Rex Stout’s novel Fer De Lance. Their last adventure by Stout was in Death Times Three. However, author Robert Goldsborough continued their tales after the long-lived Stout finally succumbed to old age early in the 1970s. His latest book appeared in 2012, entitled Archie Meets Nero Wolfe. 

Personality-wise, Nero Wolfe would have left both Holmes and Poirot comparing notes. Indeed, both would have been horrified by his detecting methods, for he seldom personally visits a crime scene (except in novels such as Some Buried Caesar); that leg work is left to others. Chiefly Goodwin, though he also has a troika of other operatives.  These being private eyes Saul Panzer, Fred Durkin and Orrie Cather; they are Wolfe’s own “Baker Street Irregulars.” He also has some other operatives he taps infrequently as well.

Holmes and Poirot would have also looked askance at Wolfe’s weight. Though fit and active as a young man growing up in Montenegro and its neighbors, Wolfe deliberately chose to trade that for indulging in good food. Thanks to his cook Fritz Brenner, Wolfe’s proportions are quite ample with an office chair built specifically to him. Archie undoubtedly has wondered often how many regular-sized people could sit in it. But both Sherlock and Hercule would Nero high marks for how well he can wrap up a case! Wolfe is so good he can give a suspect to the police gift-wrapped, dead or alive.

The prim and proper Watson would have been put off somewhat by Goodwin, who regularly displays a dry, biting wit and overall projects a happy-go-lucky demeanor. He might also have turned a skeptical eye to the witty narratives Goodwin penned about Wolfe’s cases. Watson would nevertheless have to grudgingly give him credit for how good a shot he is and how he does not tolerate fools gladly. Meanwhile Hastings and Goodwin could easily have compared notes with each other on female charms. Both men could even have gone on double-dates with their paramours, as their personalities share the same traits of charm and character.    

Three dynamic duos from the annals of detective fiction. Can anyone here name any others?

Main article image courtesy Wikimedia.