History Main / GreatDetective

* ''[[Literature/FourPastMidnight The Langoliers]]'' has mystery author Bob Jenkins, who through simple deduction and expertise rules out a lot of scenarios about what's happening to them and figures out the paranormal truth. If he was a science fiction author he’d be a SoleSurvivingScientist, and like a more competent example of that trope he even figures out the way to escape the [[spoiler: time loop]] that is behind the situation.

* ''Literature/The Langoliers'' has mystery author Bob Jenkins, who through simple deduction and expertise rules out a lot of scenarios about what's happening to them and figures out the paranormal truth. If he was a science fiction author he’d be a SoleSurvivingScientist, and like a more competent example of that trope he even figures out the way to escape the [[spoiler: time loop]] that is behind the situation.

** There's a reason the Miles Edgeworth game is called ''Ace Attorney Investigations'' when he's technically a prosecutor; all he does is detective about. He even has a [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic1-030110.php special power]] that's making logical deductions by connecting known facts.

* ''Literature/The Langoliers'' has mystery author Bob Jenkins, who through simple deduction and his past expertise rules out a lot of scenarios about what's happening to them and figures out the paranormal truth. It he was a science fiction author he’d be a {{sole surviving scientist}}, and like a more competent example of that trope he even figures out the way to escape the [[spoilers: time loop]] that is behind the situation.

* In ''ComicBook/BakerSteet'', Sharon Ford is an AlternateReality, 1980s, female, punk version of Franchise/SherlockHolmes.

The first Great Detective in fiction was Creator/EdgarAllanPoe's Literature/CAugusteDupin. Poe rejected the Vidocq model in favor of a more fantastic kind of detective. Later, the Dupin model was further codified by Creator/ArthurConanDoyle's Literature/SherlockHolmes, the most famous example to this day.

* Literature/HerculePoirot.

* Literature/LordPeterWimsey

* Batman's detective skills are regularly put to the test in the overall ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamSeries''. While he has more of a reliance on technology in Arkham Origins (something the developers said was intentional) in Asylum and City he only uses his gadgets to aid him in whatever is humanly impossible for him to do and to store/reference information. One case involves him trying to solve a murder, but the crime scene was cleaned and bleached. [[CrazyPrepared So he calibrates his cowl to track the traces of bleach.]]

** Oh and then there's also [[Comicbook/RobinSeries Tim Drake]], who Batman has said will one day surpass him, in addition to being one of two people Ra's al Ghul calls "Detective". So some nice recommendations for the position.

** Professor Layton from the series of the same name -- although the extent to how awesome he really is doesn't come into play until near the end of the first game. [[InsistentTerminology He's not a detective, he's an archaeologist]]!
** Alfendi Layton from the Spin-off, ''VideoGame/LaytonBrothersMysteryRoom''.

* Speaking of Vidocq, there is a club aptly named [[http://www.vidocq.org/ The Vidocq Society]]. Made up of volunteers, they take on cold cases and many law enforcement agencies send them cases to review. Want to join? Well, you have to be an expert in some field of forensics to start off. Oh, and you have to be invited to join, pay $100 in member dues every year and attend at least one meeting yearly (meetings are every third Thursdays of the month, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania).

* 'VisualNovel/AceAttorney'':

* Oddly enough, Loki, Norse [[TricksterArchetype trickster]] god, in ''Manga/MythicalDetectiveLokiRagnarok''.

The Great Detective tradition originates with Eugène François Vidocq, a RealLife criminal-turned-detective and founder of the [[LesCopsSportif French Sûreté]]. Vidocq pioneered many of the scientific methods of detective work which would later become common in fictional detective stories.

* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detective_Chimp Detective Chimp]] from the Franchise/DCU. A hyper-intelligent chimpanzee that happens to be one of the best detectives in the world. He likes reminding people that Franchise/{{Batman}} is merely the world's greatest ''human'' detective.

[[folder: Anime and Manga]]

[[folder: Comics]]
* Franchise/{{Batman}}. Yes, he is a top martial artist. Yes, he is a great chemist. But first, he's the world's greatest detective.

* And thirdly, there's this faceless [[ComicBook/TheQuestion guy]]. He's a straight up ace detective and lacks the gadgets and powers of the two above. He's also been referred to as the world's second greatest detective.

* Oh and then there's also [[Comicbook/RobinSeries Tim Drake]], who Batman has said will one day surpass him, in addition to being one of two people Ra's al Ghul calls "Detective." So some nice recommendations for the position.

[[folder: Fan Fiction]]

[[folder: Literature]]

[[folder: Live Action TV]]

[[folder: Tabletop Games]]

[[folder: Theatre]]
* In the Theatre/{{Mrs Hawking}} play series, the title character is in many ways a lady version of Sherlock Holmes, down to the Victorian setting.

[[folder: Video Games]]

* In ''VisualNovel/AceAttorney'', Luke Atmey has devoted his life to his detective work, especially to cases involving a [[PhantomThief master thief]] named Mask☆[=DeMasque=]. By the end of the case, we find out [[spoiler:in a [[SubvertedTrope Subversion]] of this trope that [[ManBehindTheMan he's been the mastermind behind almost everything]] Mask☆[=DeMasque=] has ever done, [[DetectiveMole blackmailing the thief into heists and then taking advantage of them]] to improve his image in the public eye. He goes so far as to [[BatmanGambit murder someone, then allow himself to be accused of being the thief himself]] to avoid this information getting out]].
** While it's not his official job title, due to the absurd amount of evidence he uncovers it can be argued that Phoenix himself (and later Athena and Apollo) fits the trope.
** There's a reason the Miles Edgeworth game is called ''Ace Attorney Investigations'' when he's technically a prosecutor; all he does is detective about. He even has a [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic1-030110.php special power]] that's making logical deductions by connecting known facts.
* VideoGame/ProfessorLayton from the series of the same name - although the extent to how awesome he really is doesn't come into play until near the end of the first game.
** [[InsistentTerminology He's not a detective, he's an archaeologist]]!
* Alfendi Layton from Professor Layton Spin off, ''VideoGame/LaytonBrothersMysteryRoom''
* Erika Furudo from ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry'' is a parody of the archetype: a Great Detective with ten times the brainpower of Literature/SherlockHolmes and one-tenth the social graces of Sherlock Holmes. So convinced is she that crimes will happen wherever she goes, she actually begins her investigation into the murder before anybody has been murdered. In [=EP7=], however, Willard H. Wright is a truly great detective.
* If played correctly, [[VideoGame/LANoire Cole Phelps]] is potentially the greatest detective in Los Angeles, able to [[LivingLieDetector squeeze the truth]] [[BreakThemByTalking out of anyone]].

* [[spoiler: Kyoko Kirigiri]], the Ultimate/Super Highschool Level Detective in ''Franchise/{{Danganronpa}}''. She comes from [[BornDetective a clan of detectives considered the greatest in history]], and this makes her vital in solving the mysteries of the school. By the end of the game, after solving multiple mysteries and acting much like [[Franchise/SherlockHolmes her Watson]] of sorts, [[TheHero Naegi]] probably also counts.
** There is also the other Ultimate/Super Highschool Level Detective in the series, Shuichi Saihara, in [[VisualNovel/NewDanganRonpaV3 Danganronpa V3]].
** The other protagonists of the series also either through experience gained through the game and some hand-holding by other characters or through natural talent also count.
** While his role is not Ultimate Detective, [[UltimateLifeForm Ultimate Affluent Progency, Byakua Togami]], constantly solves the case before the other students or asks the right questions and uncovers the right facts for him to undoubtedly count.
** The prequel novels ''LightNovel/DanganRonpaKirigiri'' reveals the existence of a system called the Detective Shelf Collection, which ranks every registered detective based on two levels of specialization and aptitude in those fields, with 9 being the lowest. While Kyouko specializes in solving murders, a rank of three zeros implies a mastery of every possible field of crime solving, so much that only four detectives have ever reached this level. Her grandfather Fuhito Kirigiri (who taught her everything she knows) is thought to qualify for this ranking if not for his being opposed to the DSC system at its founding.

* ''VisualNovel/DetectiveHankAndTheGoldenSneeze'' has the titular Hank.

[[folder:WebComics]]
* In ''Webcomic/MonsieurCharlatan'', Isidore Charlatan's BackStory.

[[folder: WebOriginal]]
* Ryney from ''Literature/TheMysterySphere'' certainly applies, though he is BrilliantButLazy.
* Dramatic Detective of ''Blog/{{LIS_DEAD}}'' claims to wear this mantle, and shows some deductive skill to back it up.

[[folder: Real Life]]

* [[Characters/WatchmenRorschac Rorschach]], unsurprisingly given he's an {{expy}} of Batman and the Question. He's hailed as the world's greatest detective in ''The Watchmen'' universe.

Compare: HardboiledDetective, LittleOldLadyInvestigates, and InspectorLestrade (whose greatness extends only to the evidence he gets). Contrast with GentlemanThief.

* Subverted in ''Anime/YuGiOhGX'', where Manjoume has declared himself Super Detective Manjoume Thunder on a few occasions. He's miserable at it, but it doesn't stop him.

** Other detectives like Sera Masumi and Tooru Amuro, [[spoiler:who is actually the Black Organisation member Bourbon]], are introduced late in the manga, but they are not on the same level as Shin'ichi and Heiji. That underlines these two as the real Meitantei of the series. The only character who is shown to be greater than Shin'ichi is his father Yusaku. However, Yusaku does not work as a detective, he's instead a writer.

* In ''VisualNovel/AceAttorney'', Luke Atmey has devoted his life to his detective work, especially to cases involving a [[PhantomThief master thief]] named Mask☆[=DeMasque=]. By the end of the case, we find out [[spoiler:in a [[SubvertedTrope Subversion]] of this trope that [[ManBehindTheMan he's been the mastermind behind almost everything]] Mask☆[=DeMasque=] has ever done, [[DetectiveMole blackmailing the thief into heists and then taking advantage of them]] to improve his image in the public eye. He goes so far as to murder someone, then allow himself to be accused of being the thief himself to avoid this information getting out]].
** While it's not his official job title, due to the absurd amount of evidence he uncovers it can be argued that Phoenix (and later Athena and Apollo) himself fits the trope.

* In ''VisualNovel/AceAttorney'', Luke Atmey has devoted his life to his detective work, especially to cases involving a [[PhantomThief master thief]] named Mask☆[=DeMasque=]. By the end of the case, we find out [[spoiler:in a Subversion of this trope that he's been the mastermind behind everything Mask☆[=DeMasque=] has ever done, blackmailing the thief into heists and then taking advantage of them to improve his image in the public eye. He goes so far as to murder someone, then allow himself to be accused of being the thief himself to avoid this information getting out.]]]

''VideoGame/TheInvisibleHours'' has Gustaf Gustav, "the detective so good they named him twice." He's able deduce the who committed a murder within twenty minutes using a bit of trivia about timezones and good character judgment, [[TheAlcoholic despite drinking heavily during that whole time.]]

Compare: HardboiledDetective and LittleOldLadyInvestigates. Contrast with GentlemanThief.