James McClure's Tromp Kramer and Micky Zondi. I was thinking about them just this morning and thinking it is time to re-read the series. Only the first two books are in print but the others are fairly easy to find.
Tough call. Elvis Cole and Joe Pike pop to mind immediately, but then John Connolly's Charlie Parker and Louis crowd in there. Declan Hughes's Ed Loy and Tommy Owens are great in that they're a different sort of duo, where Tommy isn't always the most reliable vessel, so you're left to wonder if Ed may have something unexpected happen; Pike and Louis are rocks.
Inspector Lloyd and his partner (later his wife) Judy Hill in the series by the late Jill McGown.
Inspector Barnaby and his partner Troy in Caroline Graham's Midsummer mysteries (although the books are much, much better than the TV show).
Inspector Bill Slider and his partner Atherton (well, really, the relationship between Bill Slider and all of the people who work for him) in Cynthia Harrod-Eagles's Bill Slider mysteries.
Pembleton and Bayliss from Homicide: Life On The Street and McNulty and Bunk from The Wire.
The latter, especially for their well-oiled machine work together (anybody that can solve a cold case using only the word FUCK or variations thereof have my vote).
People have already said Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin, and Nick and Nora. Those are probably my favorites. Joe Friday and Frank Smith/Bill Gannon, too.
Mary Alice and Patricia Anne (Sister and Mouse) from Anne George's Southern Sisters stories always make me laugh. I like the respectful relationship of Louise Penny's Armand Gamache and Jean Guy Beauvoir. Michel
I agree with several of those already mentioned. Here are some not yet honored. Admittedly, I tend to favor the obscure and arcane so some of my choices may not be immediately recognizable.
TV duos: Dana Sculley & Fox Mulder Jonathan Creek & Maddie Magellan
Books: Donald Lam & Bertha Cool Jeff & Haila Troy Arthur Bryant & John May Ethelred Tressider & Elsie Thirkettle
...and for a really old pair, probably utterly forgotten:
Dr. John Thorndyke and Dr. Christopher Jervis. (R. Austin Freeman is probably overdue for an FFB post)
It's funny, but the first thing that came to mind was the recent movie 16 Blocks. Mos Def plays one of the most endearingly annoying characters in crime, and his prickly relationship with the Bruce Willis character has real depth.
pairings count too. Kalinda and Alicia make a good duo.
James McClure's Tromp Kramer and Micky Zondi. I was thinking about them just this morning and thinking it is time to re-read the series. Only the first two books are in print but the others are fairly easy to find.
ReplyDeleteTough call. Elvis Cole and Joe Pike pop to mind immediately, but then John Connolly's Charlie Parker and Louis crowd in there. Declan Hughes's Ed Loy and Tommy Owens are great in that they're a different sort of duo, where Tommy isn't always the most reliable vessel, so you're left to wonder if Ed may have something unexpected happen; Pike and Louis are rocks.
ReplyDeleteModesty Blaise and Willie Garvin. I love the way they can laugh at each other as well as themselves.
ReplyDeleteHap Collins and Leonard Pine in Joe Lansdale's novels. Perfect complements to each other and handy in a tight spot. They're a modern day odd couple.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Rob Kitchin.
ReplyDeleteword verification: phomili -- the guy who worked with phovanili
Holmes and Watson
ReplyDeleteNero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin
Cole and Pike
Foyle and his sgt.
Three favorites from across the pond:
ReplyDeleteInspector Lloyd and his partner (later his wife) Judy Hill in the series by the late Jill McGown.
Inspector Barnaby and his partner Troy in Caroline Graham's Midsummer mysteries (although the books are much, much better than the TV show).
Inspector Bill Slider and his partner Atherton (well, really, the relationship between Bill Slider and all of the people who work for him) in Cynthia Harrod-Eagles's Bill Slider mysteries.
Nick and Nora Charles.
ReplyDeletePatti, you rock-- you beat me to it. I was gonna say Nick and Nora. But since you already did, I'll go with Baretta and Fred the Cockatoo.
ReplyDeleteGrijpstra and de Gier from the Jan van Wettering.
ReplyDeleteTV:
ReplyDeletePembleton and Bayliss from Homicide: Life On The Street and McNulty and Bunk from The Wire.
The latter, especially for their well-oiled machine work together (anybody that can solve a cold case using only the word FUCK or variations thereof have my vote).
Patti - I like a lot of pairings. Morse and Lewis are great. So are Dalziel and Pascoe. And so are, of course, Holmes and Watson.
ReplyDeleteDalziel and Pascoe were a great pair.
ReplyDeleteAnd Nancy and Bess and George and Ned.
People have already said Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin, and Nick and Nora. Those are probably my favorites. Joe Friday and Frank Smith/Bill Gannon, too.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Hap and Leonard.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete(I should really wait to type comments until after I've had at least one entire copy of coffee--less typos.)
ReplyDeleteA lot of the ones I like have already been said. However, I'd add in Andrew Vachss' Burke and his Family of Choice.
I didn't mention my favorite TV duo: LAW & ORDER's Lenny Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) and Ed Green (Jessie Martin).
ReplyDeleteHarry Angel and Louis Cypher in "Falling Angel." Not the movie "Angel Heart," mind you, the book by William Hjortsberg.
ReplyDeleteLove that book!
ReplyDeleteOn TV always liked Remington Steele and Laura King and Dave and Maddie.
ReplyDeleteA lot of good ones mentioned (Hap & Leonard, Dalziel & Pascoe, etc.) but let me add:
ReplyDeleteStephanie Plum and Lula
Joe Leaphorn & Jim Chee
Bill Gastner & Estelle Reyes-Guzman
Jeff M.
Tough question.
ReplyDeleteMorse and Lewis are definitely one of the best teams.
I also liked Inspector Lynley and Barbara Havers once, but I think that series has slipped terribly.
Mary Alice and Patricia Anne (Sister and Mouse) from Anne George's Southern Sisters stories always make me laugh.
ReplyDeleteI like the respectful relationship of Louise Penny's Armand Gamache and Jean Guy Beauvoir.
Michel
I agree with several of those already mentioned. Here are some not yet honored. Admittedly, I tend to favor the obscure and arcane so some of my choices may not be immediately recognizable.
ReplyDeleteTV duos:
Dana Sculley & Fox Mulder
Jonathan Creek & Maddie Magellan
Books:
Donald Lam & Bertha Cool
Jeff & Haila Troy
Arthur Bryant & John May
Ethelred Tressider & Elsie Thirkettle
...and for a really old pair, probably utterly forgotten:
Dr. John Thorndyke and Dr. Christopher Jervis. (R. Austin Freeman is probably overdue for an FFB post)
Michel-Thanks so much for the TIME.
ReplyDeleteIt's gone from the stands so quickly,
How could I forget Sculley and Mulder.
Thanks, John, for mentioning Jonathan Creek & Maddie Magellan. The show was just not the same after Maddie left.
ReplyDeleteAnother British duo of note:
Insp. John Luther and Alice Morgan
Another amusing (if sometimes tiresome) duo I got a kick out of was Hill & Renko on HILL STREET.
Jeff M.
Cannot wait for Luther 2.
ReplyDeleteAnother topic is all the crime fiction figures who always worked alone.
I've always loved Jim Rockford and Angel but they didn't solve crimes together. They were more cause and effect
ReplyDeleteJackie wants to add Eve Dallas and Peabody from the J. D. Robb (Nora Roberts) series.
ReplyDeleteJeff M.
It's funny, but the first thing that came to mind was the recent movie 16 Blocks. Mos Def plays one of the most endearingly annoying characters in crime, and his prickly relationship with the Bruce Willis character has real depth.
ReplyDeleteGood movie. Bruce can act when he tries.
ReplyDeleteThe Hardy boys, but Dave Robicheaux and Clete Purcell deserve consideration. How come no one mentioned Spenser and Susan Silverman?
ReplyDeleteI wonder why no one has mentioned Holmes and Yoyo?
ReplyDeleteOh. I see.