13 Series Characters

Thirteen Series Characters in Fiction #5 1. Travis McGee by John D. McDonald: This series is over forty years old and it still is my favorite. McGee is the best. McGee is a hero that is not going to change his principles for anyone. What he believes is right is what he will fight you to the death for. 2. Doc Ford by Randy Wayne White: Ford is the closest thing to McGee I've seen in a long time. He has the same type of principled character as McGee was. In this day of "dark" heroes it is refreshing to see someone do things because it is the right thing to do. 3. Philip Marlowe by Raymond Chandler: A classic and still great. 4. Lew Archer by Ross MacDonald: In some ways an updated version on Raymond Chandler, with a lot more psychology thrown in. Like Chandler Los Angeles in almost a character in a lot of the stories. 5. Harry Bosch by Michael Connelly: This is probably the best of the current mystery writers out there right now. Harry is a policeman, but there is so much more to his character. Connelly is one of the best writers out there. 6. Nathan Heller by Max Allan Collins: Heller is not always the nicest guy out there, but his stories are always a great read. Set in the 40s and 50s Heller is always involved with some famous case that has been unsolved, such as the Lindbergh case. In his cases Heller always solves the case. Collins does a lot of research on the cases and presents a believable explanation for his results. 7. 87th Preceinct by Ed McBain: This is not one single character but the entire police preceinct. Though Steve Carella is usually one of the main characters in the stories, all the other police detectives get their story told. One of the masters of the genre. 8. Tubby Dubonnet by Tony Dunbar: Tubby is a slightly overweight from New Orleans. Mixing as much laughs as suspense these stories are great. 9. Dave Robicheaux by James Lee Burke: Another series set in New Orleans and its surrounding areas. Burke has put Robicheaux through the wringer. He starts off as a drunk and than goes on the wagon. His wife gets killed, he remarries only to lost his second wife eventually and fall off the wagon. Burke has some of the most sylized writing out there, it's a joy to read. 10. Atticus Kodiak by Greg Rucka: Depending on your view, this is either the coolest name for a character or the strangest. I kind of like it. Atticus is a bodyguard. Another character put through the wringer by his writer. 11. Nick Travers by Ace Atkins: Ok, the writer's name sounds more like the name of the character. Nick is another series set in New Orleans. Nick is an ex Saint, now working for Tulane studying the blues. His stories always get involved in old stories from the blues, such as his first one looking for lost recordings of Robert Johnson. 12. Charlie Parker by John Connolly: This is the newest series I've discovered and really enjoyed it. In this series the writer mixes the detective with angels. 13. Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus by Faye Kellerman: I didn't read her for the longest time, reading her husband's Alex Delware novels. But a few years back when I had foot surgery and was laid up at my parents I needed something to read and my Dad had a copy of one of her novels. I was hooked, I think I stayed up most of the night reading it. I went out within the next few days and bought all her books to date at that time.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants