Since today is Valentine’s Day I figured it would be a good day to list some of my favorite couples from mystery fiction. Okay, a few are from TV and movies—I couldn’t resist.
Good Girls and Bad Boys—This is one of my favorite categories. (It should be, shouldn’t it?) We’ve got the law-abiding woman, minding her own business (usually while she’s vacation in a foreign county) when she’d sucked into a web of intrigue and danger after she meets a handsome stranger who, by some strange coincidence, is usually a recovering (or possibly not) art/jewel thief.
>Vicki Bliss and John Smythe (Elizabeth Peters)
>Grace Hollister and Peter Fox (our own Diana Killian)
>Frances Stevens and John Robie (Grace Kelly and Cary Grant in To Catch a Thief)
Opposites Attract—This is a variation on the good girl/bad boy theme, but in this category the man doesn’t have a shady past—well, not as shady as the true bad boys above. The emphasis here is on the conflicting personalities.
>Booth and Brennen on Bones
>Annie and Max Darling (Carolyn Hart)
>Maddy and David on Moonlighting
Old Married Couple—Just because they’re married doesn’t mean these couples are boring.
>Amelia Peabody and Emerson (Elizabeth Peters)
>Nick and Nora Charles (Dashiell Hammet)
Okay, that’s a start. Help me fill in these categories or toss in a new category (love triangles, anyone?) with your favorite couples.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
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Old Married Couples…Sally and Mac in MacMillan and Wife. Where do we put Laura Holt and Mr. Steele, by the way? They almost fit in every category.
Oh–remember Hart to Hart? Oh my GOSH that show bugged me. Every single episode: “Johhhhhhhhhnathaaaaaan!” What the hell was the matter with her that she couldn’t work out a single problem on her own? And yet I kept watching. Week after week…
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Great additions, Diana!
I don\’t know about Laura Holt and Mr. Steele. Probably Opposites Attract. I can\’t remember his shady past. Did they ever reveal why he was hiding out as \”Mr. Steele?\” They didn\’t get married, did they? Man, my memory is shot. Have to get the DVD and brush up!
You\’ll notice I didn\’t put down Hart to Hart…must have been the yelling thing.
by Sara
on February 14th, 2007 at 11:34 am
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You mentioned love triangles…how about the ultimate Bad Boy/Good Girl love triangle? Stephanie Plum with Ranger and Joe Morelli by Janet Evanovich.
by Becky
on February 14th, 2007 at 11:56 am
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Hey, Becky. Yep, the Stephanie/Ranger/Joe thing definitely goes to the top of the list for love triangles.
by Sara
on February 14th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
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How about -
Old Married Couple: Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell in Laurie R. King’s series. I love that series!
Not sure where this would fit, but Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant in Charade and Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane. How would you categorize these couples?
And I agree that Holt and Steele are a category all their own!
by The Other Laura
on February 14th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
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Hi Laura. Good idea to add Holmes/Russell to the Married Couple list. Wimsey and Vane could go there, too, since they eventually marry.
As far as Hepburn/Grant in Charade (which I *love*), I’m thinking Good Girl/Bad Boy–stolen WWII loot in his background, you know.
by Sara
on February 14th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
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