Mystery Scene Community

General Discussion => Welcome and General Discussion => Topic started by: Becke Davis on February 17, 2020, 01:33:02 am

Title: Who are some of your favorite mystery pairings, like Holmes and Watson?
Post by: Becke Davis on February 17, 2020, 01:33:02 am
I thought of doing this as a poll, but there are far too many mystery duos and I don't want to limit your recommendations.

Some of my favorites:

Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James (Deborah Crombie)

Hercule Poirot and Capt. Arthur Hastings (Agatha Christie)

Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin (Rex Stout)

Roderick and Troy Alleyn (Ngaio Marsh)

Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane (Dorothy L. Sayers)

Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn (Tony Hillerman)

Jane Rizzoli and Dr. Maura Isles (Tess Gerritsen)

Inspector Rutledge and Hamish (Charles Todd)

Dalziel and Pascoe (Reginald Hill)

Spenser and Hawk (Robert B. Parker)

I could list another fifty or more but I'd rather see what detective duos YOU come up with!



Title: Re: Who are some of your favorite mystery pairings, like Holmes and Watson?
Post by: Kate Stine, Editor on February 18, 2020, 03:10:52 pm
I like Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane but I also liked Peter Wimsey and his butler Bunter. I have to pick up some Dorothy L. Sayers and reread them, it's been too long.
Title: Re: Who are some of your favorite mystery pairings, like Holmes and Watson?
Post by: Becke Davis on February 18, 2020, 04:14:59 pm
I like Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane but I also liked Peter Wimsey and his butler Bunter. I have to pick up some Dorothy L. Sayers and reread them, it's been too long.

Gaudy Night is one of my favorites, but I think in most of the other books Wimsey and Bunter are the important duo.

I was just thinking of Albert Campion and Lugg - I almost like Lugg more than Campion.
Title: Re: Who are some of your favorite mystery pairings, like Holmes and Watson?
Post by: Denise on February 20, 2020, 10:35:17 pm
Tommy and Tuppence

Hercule Poirot and Ariadne Oliver

Richard Jury and Melrose Plant

Richard Jury and Sgt. Wiggins

Amelia Peabody and Emerson

Koko and Yum Yum!
Title: Re: Who are some of your favorite mystery pairings, like Holmes and Watson?
Post by: Becke Davis on February 20, 2020, 10:57:34 pm
Tommy and Tuppence

Hercule Poirot and Ariadne Oliver

Richard Jury and Melrose Plant

Richard Jury and Sgt. Wiggins

Amelia Peabody and Emerson

Koko and Yum Yum!

Wonderful additions to the list!
Title: Re: Who are some of your favorite mystery pairings, like Holmes and Watson?
Post by: Hannah Adams on April 02, 2020, 01:35:53 am
Louise Penny's books are favorites of mine, but Armand Gamache has more than one partner. The whole ensemble cast is marvelous so I'd put the whole cast of (regular) characters - the residents of Three Pines and Gamache's coworkers - at the top of my list.
Title: Re: Who are some of your favorite mystery pairings, like Holmes and Watson?
Post by: KiwiCraig on April 02, 2020, 07:16:19 am
Some great suggestions so far.

I also really enjoy:

Elvis Cole and Joe Pike (Robert Crais);
Myron Bolitar and Win Lockwood III (Harlan Coben);
Tony Hill and Carol Jordan (Val McDermid);
DI Zigic and DS Ferreira (Eva Dolan);
Harry Bosch and Renee Ballard (Michael Connelly - new pairing, fascinating dynamic), also Bosch and Mickey Haller when they collaborate in some books.

Title: Re: Who are some of your favorite mystery pairings, like Holmes and Watson?
Post by: Hannah Adams on April 02, 2020, 07:10:53 pm
Some great suggestions so far.

I also really enjoy:

Elvis Cole and Joe Pike (Robert Crais);
Myron Bolitar and Win Lockwood III (Harlan Coben);
Tony Hill and Carol Jordan (Val McDermid);
DI Zigic and DS Ferreira (Eva Dolan);
Harry Bosch and Renee Ballard (Michael Connelly - new pairing, fascinating dynamic), also Bosch and Mickey Haller when they collaborate in some books.

I've read a lot of Harlan Coben books and I like the Myron Bolitar books a lot. I've read the older Harry Bosch books but I'm having trouble keeping up with newer ones. I have some Val McDermid books but don't think I've ever read anything by Eve Dolan.
Title: Re: Who are some of your favorite mystery pairings, like Holmes and Watson?
Post by: Becke Davis on April 07, 2020, 12:40:51 am
I am sooo behind on Michael Connelly's books. I really like Harry Bosch and several of his books are on my keeper shelves. But I haven't read a bunch of his more recent books - I've just found too many new authors I like in addition to his.
Title: Re: Who are some of your favorite mystery pairings, like Holmes and Watson?
Post by: JRob on April 07, 2020, 02:42:17 pm
I am sooo behind on Michael Connelly's books. I really like Harry Bosch and several of his books are on my keeper shelves. But I haven't read a bunch of his more recent books - I've just found too many new authors I like in addition to his.

You are missing out. His last few books (save one) have been OUTSTANDING!
Title: Re: Who are some of your favorite mystery pairings, like Holmes and Watson?
Post by: Becke Davis on April 07, 2020, 07:41:31 pm
I am sooo behind on Michael Connelly's books. I really like Harry Bosch and several of his books are on my keeper shelves. But I haven't read a bunch of his more recent books - I've just found too many new authors I like in addition to his.

You are missing out. His last few books (save one) have been OUTSTANDING!

Okay, I'll bite - which are the outstanding ones? I'll figure out the "save one" by the process of elimination.
Title: Re: Who are some of your favorite mystery pairings, like Holmes and Watson?
Post by: JRob on April 07, 2020, 08:58:57 pm

Okay, I'll bite - which are the outstanding ones? I'll figure out the "save one" by the process of elimination.

DARK SACRED NIGHT and THE NIGHT FIRE were fantastic. I got to review the latter for the magazine. You can check that out HERE! (https://www.mysteryscenemag.com/component/content/article/26-reviews/books/6707-the-night-fire).

The one I wasn't crazy about, and the only Connelly book I didn't like, was THE LATE SHOW. It introduced the character of Renee Ballard but in my opinion I thought there was too many separate plots going on in the book and it gave short shrift to all of them. But that was just my opinion.
Title: Re: Who are some of your favorite mystery pairings, like Holmes and Watson?
Post by: Becke Davis on April 07, 2020, 09:55:05 pm
Definitely want to read the two you recommended. Despite the quarantine, I don't seem to be making much of a dent in my waiting-to-be-read pile. If anything, I think it's growing!
Title: Re: Who are some of your favorite mystery pairings, like Holmes and Watson?
Post by: JRob on April 08, 2020, 12:38:08 pm
Definitely want to read the two you recommended. Despite the quarantine, I don't seem to be making much of a dent in my waiting-to-be-read pile. If anything, I think it's growing!

Mine isn't growing but I'm not making much of a dent in it either.
Title: Re: Who are some of your favorite mystery pairings, like Holmes and Watson?
Post by: CarlaZ on April 10, 2020, 09:10:18 am
I'm finding it hard to concentrate on books. But I've been obsessively reading the news, both the Washington Post and The New York Times. I really have to stop it since it's only adding to my stress...

Title: Re: Who are some of your favorite mystery pairings, like Holmes and Watson?
Post by: JRob on April 10, 2020, 09:36:01 am
I'm finding it hard to concentrate on books. But I've been obsessively reading the news, both the Washington Post and The New York Times. I really have to stop it since it's only adding to my stress...

I've found that avoiding the news helps lessen the stress from hearing/reading it.

I watch just enough once a day to keep informed but I don't need my calm damaged on a constant basis.
Title: Re: Who are some of your favorite mystery pairings, like Holmes and Watson?
Post by: Becke Davis on April 11, 2020, 01:46:37 am
I'm finding it hard to concentrate on books. But I've been obsessively reading the news, both the Washington Post and The New York Times. I really have to stop it since it's only adding to my stress...

I've found that avoiding the news helps lessen the stress from hearing/reading it.

I watch just enough once a day to keep informed but I don't need my calm damaged on a constant basis.

I'm trying to get my news online because the videos make me crazy. I'm alternating with U.S. and foreign press to get different perspectives - The Guardian and BBC.com in the U.K., The New York Times and The Chicago Tribune as well as NPR, Huffington Post and USA Today. Even reading the news is probably making my blood pressure spike. :-(