So, who's the world's greatest detective? (other than the big two)

[Wuggy]

The answer is obvious!

Jake Quinlan!

yeah, but he's nothing without his portable wac.

Dis guy... is un-fucking-beliavable!

OT: Dwigth Schrute. Remember when he went to find out whether Michael's girlfriend was cheating on him? Yeah, that was awesome.

 

[Prince Regent]

"Morse, everyone just calls me 'Morse'.''


<This guy.

 

[Gluzzbung]

Dandy Gilver...

Read the books... just read the books.

 

[Sorafrosty]

Miss Marple! Definitely Miss Marple! Such a lovely little lady, and everyone underestimates her.

 

[Susurrus]

In no particular order - L is pretty awesome (Deathnote SHOULD have ended differently (every episode after about 24 was rubbish...)

Hercule Poirot is just brilliant, but I think Philip Marlowe also deserves a mention - the epitome of Hard-Boiled, and he gets extra props for his Arthurian mystique, his method of narration, and his insistence on keeping the reader in the dark for another few chapters, even after he has everything figured out!

 

[knight steel]

HRPM Obvious answer is Rorschach.......

 

[Hungry Donner]

People who are actual detectives, or at lest pursue something like this professionally: Nero Wolfe. Not only does he solve a wide variety of crimes, he manages to do most of his work simply by thinking things through and letting others do the legwork.

People who solve crimes, but aren't professional detectives? Cadfael. No access to some of the most mundane forensics (like finger prints) but he manages to pursue mysteries with intelligence and compassion.

 

[octafish]

Phoenix Wright. Through sheer power of bluffing and pulling conclusions out of his ass, he has stopped some of Capcom's most ingenious criminals.

I would say Dr House, but he's just Sherlock Holmes with a cane and a different drug addiction, so he's disqualified.

As for L, well, he really doesn't do anything with his information, and inaction is just as bad as incompetence.

Fixed that for you.

snip
People who solve crimes, but aren't professional detectives? Cadfael. No access to some of the most mundane forensics (like finger prints) but he manages to pursue mysteries with intelligence and compassion.

Oooh good one. I never read the books, but I do remember Derek Jacobi playing the character. Lets face it Derek Jacobi is always good so Cadfael was pretty damn good.

 

[Susurrus]

In no particular order - L is pretty awesome (Deathnote SHOULD have ended differently (every episode after about 24 was rubbish...)

Hercule Poirot is just brilliant, but I think Philip Marlowe also deserves a mention - the epitome of Hard-Boiled, and he gets extra props for his Arthurian mystique, his method of narration, and his insistence on keeping the reader in the dark for another few chapters, even after he has everything figured out!

 

[Lazy Kitty]

Escapist, I am disappoint. This should have been first.

Spoiler

And that's exactly who I was thinking about.

 

[Eleima]

I would've gone with Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple as runners up to Sherlock Holmes.
I'm a big Batman fan, *but* I figure he isn't really playing fair, what with all the technology he's using. Those named above rely only on their wits and deductive reasoning.

 

[Custard_Angel]

The combined jury from 12 Angry Men.

As one "body" they questioned everything they thought they knew about a case, picked out the facts and submitted them to logical and physical analysis overcoming intellectual, emotional and socioeconomic biases to come to a conclusion that was both just and fair.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

SNIP

Lack of Inspector Gadget and his crew leaves me at a loss OP. No one else is out there stopping Dr. Claw again and again and again!

 

[jacob97900]

Detective Conan, there has to be a reason there are over 600 episodes.

 

[StorytellingIsAMust]

I would say Dr House, but he's just Sherlock Holmes with a cane and a different drug addiction, so he's disqualified.

Fixed that for you.

Touche.

 

[Mad1Cow]

Inspector Clouseau? Pink Panther? Greatest detective in all of France? No just me then? Ok ¬_¬

 

[ChildofGallifrey]

I'm going to say FBI Special Agent Dr. Aloysius X.L. Pendergast, the recurring lead character from authors Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. I can't be the only fan here, right? They're a loosely connected series of semi-supernatural mysteries with a grounding in reality, and they're excellent. Pendergast is one of the most capable, badass characters in modern literature, IMO.