This is discussion archived from a time before the current discussion method was installed.
- Sherlock Holmes may well have been the origin of this trope.
Well, except that he wasn't an amateur. Sleuthing was his day job.
Daibhid C: On a similar note, I'm not sure Hettie Wainthropp (a rare example of a Little Old Lady Investigates who actually works as a PI) or the New Tricks characters (who are employed to solve crimes, even if they aren't serving police officers) qualify.
I'm deleting Perry Mason on the grounds that he IS involved with Law Enforcement and he has a reason to solve crimes (to prove his clients didn;t do it).
Daibhid C: And pulled Nero Wolfe, who is decidedly not amateur. Nor is Archie, since he's employed by Wolfe to assist him.
Jack Reacher should be removed from the list—he was a Military Policeman for 13 years and is a professional investigator.
