Two is better than one… or so the saying goes - Debatable. However, when it comes to fighting off heinous criminals, solving mysteries, and uncovering the truth, one needs all the help they can get. The genre of crime thriller fiction has seen a vast array of compelling characters in its history. And among them, we have witnessed dynamic duos whose interactions are witty, wholesome, entertaining, and take the edge off the morbidity of the plot.
Let’s talk about some of the most famous dynamic duos in the crime thriller genre.
Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander From The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Here’s a couple that quickly became an international sensation. Mikael, an investigative journalist for Millennium magazine in Stockholm, Sweden, has an unhealthy obsession with crime. His personality and persistence to seek the truth are addicting and uniquely encapsulate audiences.
On the other hand, Lisbeth is a lone wolf and a tattooed punk prodigy, adding a dramatic essence to their equation.
Mikael chooses to remain within the confines of society, whereas Lisbeth holds a grudge against it. The dynamic duo’s journey uncovering murders and corruption is intoxicating and worth reading.
Coffin Ed Johnson and Grave Digger Jones From Chester Himes’ A Rage in Harlem
We’re dating back to the 1950s and 1960s with this one. A pair of African American detectives working in New York City, “Coffin” Ed Johnson and “Grave Digger” Jones, are cops appalled by violent criminals running amuck in the city.
As their nicknames suggest, they aren’t ones to hold back when dealing with the wicked and the vile. They enforce the law in their own unique, chaotic manner, and justice is a top priority for them.
The author, Chester Himes, emphasizes the inequality between people of color. Having grown up in such challenging times, Johnson and Jones are unafraid to speak up and take action in the face of injustice.
Their interactions are entertaining, encased with noir-styled procedurals ahead of their time.
Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne From In the Bleak Midwinter
Julia Spencer-Fleming’s investigators are opposites, yet form a duo that just makes sense. Get this, he’s a police chief in a small town, while she’s a reverend. The two marry their expertise in a pursuit to unravel the truth in Millers Kill, New York.
Both characters are strong-headed and contain a lot of depth which adds to the overall lore of the mystery.
Readers can’t help but come back for more.
Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes from The Beekeeper’s Apprentice
Laurie R. King puts a unique spin on a sidekick fit for the most famous detective in fiction, Sherlock Holmes.
Her series revolves around Mary Russell. Like Sherlock, Mary has a gift for intuition and observation which Mr. Holmes polishes. Later, we see the pair form a crime-solving duo where young Mary drags Sherlock out of retirement and investigate mysteries that resonate with some traditional Holmesian plot.
Jack Fallon and Elaina Rodriguez from Chicago Detective Jack Fallon in the Mystery of the Exotic Escort Murders
In this adventurous tale, Jack Fallon, the new detective on the block, is recruited into the homicide division, where he is partnered with Elaina, a beautiful and highly intuitive investigator. Their relationship has friction, with a constant underlying notion of care and respect for each other, which appeals to the readers.
Their interactions are witty, and their chemistry is infatuating. What’s more, both make a solid investigative team necessary to bring the mysterious escort murders in Chicago to justice.
Will they be successful in their chase? And how will their duo fair by the end of the book? Delve into Bob Kelly’s exhilarating murder mystery, Jack Fallon in The Mystery of the Exotic Escort Murders, now available on Amazon.
