Group: 21-11 group Content Introduction chapter about detective writers

18. Richard Harland
Appearance: Leave Her to Heaven, 1945 [film]
Profile: Richard (Cornel Wilde) is a writer who believes he’s struck gold when he encounters Ellen Berent (Gene Tierney), a gorgeous young woman who is totally infatuated with him. He’s not an amazing detective, because by the time he figures out she’s actually an obsessive psychopath, it’s basically too late.
Detective skills: 1/5
Writing skills: 3/5

17. Robert Langdon
Appearance: Angels and Demons by Dan Brown, and subsequent novels, 2000-present (and three films)
Profile: Robert Langdon is Professor of Art History and Symbology (not a real field, but sure) at Harvard University, and for some reason he’s called to solve various dramatic religious crimes throughout Europe. Apparently, he looks like “Harrison Ford in Harris tweed.” He is good at following leads, but the various things he has to pursue aren’t exactly subtle, so it’s unclear how good a detective he really is. He is the author of six books, but they all seem about the same exact thing, so he probably got tenure after book 1. Just a guess.
Detective skills: 2/5
Writing skills: 3/5

16. Holly Martins
Appearance: The Third Man, 1949 [film]
Profile: Holly Martins (Joseph Cotten) is an American pulp novelist of popular Westerns, but he finds himself in postwar Vienna, investigating the coincidental death of an old friend he was supposed to meet, there. For all his vigorous inquiries, he gets tricked in a major way, and a romantic entanglement with his friend’s ex-girlfriend seriously distracts him from the pursuit of justice.
Detective skills: 2.5/5
Writing skills: 2.5/5

15. Marcus Goldman
Appearance: The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair by Joël Dicker, 2012 [novel] (and miniseries adaptation)
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Profile: Marcus Goldman is a bestselling author looking for his next story. He travels to visit his beloved college professor, Harry Quebert, in New Hampshire. But Quebert has just been linked to the murder of a young woman thirty three years before, and Marcus takes it upon himself to investigate the crime, turning his investigation into his new manuscript. It could be better. A lot of “tell,” not a lot of “show,” Marcus.