This is a partial list of fictional private investigators — also known as private eyes or PIs — who have appeared in various works of literature, film, television, and games.

DetectiveCreatorDebutKaren AndersenLouise Burfitt-DonsThe Missing Activist (2018)AngelJoss WhedonAngel (TV) (1999)Harry AngelWilliam HjortsbergFalling Angel (1978)Lew ArcherRoss MacdonaldThe Moving Target (1949)Bilqees "Bobby" AhmedSamar ShaikhBobby Jasoos (2014)Jagga BagchiAnurag BasuJagga Jasoos (2017)Byomkesh BakshiSharadindu BandyopadhyaySatyanweshi (1934)Goenda BaradacharanShirshendu MukhopadhyayMonojder Advut BariParashor BarmaPremendra MitraNagchampa (1968)Benoit BlancRian JohnsonKnives Out (2019)Kate BranniganVal McDermidDead BeatDead Beat (1992)Nestor BurmaLéo Malet120, rue de la Gare (1943)Joe CaneiliHayford PeirceTrouble in Tahiti: P.I. Joe Caneili, Discrétion AssuréeP. I. Joe Caneili, Discretion Assuree (2000)Frank CannonEdward HumeCannon (TV) (1971)Carlotta CarlyleLinda BarnesA Trouble of Fools (1987)Rex CarverVictor CanningThe Whip Hand (1965)Dipak ChatterjeeSwapan KumarAdrishya Sanket (1953)Detective ChimpJohn Broome and Carmine InfantinoAdventures of Rex the Wonder Dog #4 (July–August 1952)Emerson CodBryan FullerPushing Daisies (TV) (2007)Elvis ColeRobert CraisThe Monkey's Raincoat (1987)The Continental OpDashiell HammettThe Tenth ClewThe Tenth Clew (1924)Alexa CroweClaire TonkinMy Life Is Murder (TV) (2019)Clifford DeeJ. Denison ReedCliffords War: The Bluegrass Battleground (2021) Cliffords War: Without End (2022)Frankie DrakeCarol Hay and Michelle RicciFrankie Drake Mysteries (TV) (2018)Harry DresdenJim ButcherStorm Front (2000)The Dresden Files (TV) (2007)Nancy Drew Carolyn KeeneThe Secret of the Old Clock (1930)Feluda, or Prodosh Chandra Mitra Satyajit Ray Feludar Goendagiri (1965)Phryne FisherKerry GreenwoodCocaine Blues (1989)Jessica FletcherPeter S. Fischer, Richard Levinson and William LinkMurder, She Wrote (TV) (1984)Dan FortuneMichael CollinsAct of Fear (1967)Josephine FullerLynne MurrayLarger Than Death (1997)GaneshSujathaNylon Kayiru (1968)Dirk GentlyDouglas AdamsDirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (1987)J.J. 'Jake' GittesRobert TowneChinatown (Film) (1974)Lindsay GordonVal McDermidReport for MurderReport for Murder (1987)Bernhard "Bernie" GuntherPhilip KerrMarch Violets (1989)Mike HammerMickey SpillaneI, the JuryI, the Jury (1947)Cliff HardyPeter CorrisThe Dying TradeThe Dying Trade (1980)Frank and Joe Hardy Franklin DixonThe Tower Treasure (1930)Sherlock HolmesSir Arthur Conan DoyleA Study in Scarlet (1887)Jack IrishPeter TempleBad Debts (1996)Jessica JonesBrian Michael Bendis and Michael GaydosAlias (Comic Book) (2001)Jessica Jones (TV) (2015)Kemal KayankayaJakob ArjouniHappy Birthday, Türke! (1985); English translation: Happy Birthday, Turk! (1994)Patrick KenzieDennis LehaneA Drink Before the War (1994)Arthur Lemming Monty PythonMonty Python's Flying Circus - "Owl Stretching Time" (TV) (1969)Miss Madelyn MackHugh C. Weir"The Problem of the Eliminated Bridegroom" (1909)Great Mystery Stories in Illustrated Sunday Magazine, The Gazette Times (Pittsburgh), December 12, 1909 (first story is on previous page)Trent MalloyCarlos SandovalAlbert S. Ruddy & Leslie Greif and Paul Haggis and Christopher CanaanWalker, Texas Ranger (TV) (1997)Thomas MagnumDonald P. Bellisario and Glen A. LarsonMagnum, P.I. (TV) (1980)Joe MannixRichard Levinson and William LinkMannix (TV) (1967)Frank MarkerRoger Marshall and Anthony MarriottPublic Eye (TV) (1965)Philip MarloweRaymond ChandlerThe Big Sleep (1939)Murder, My Sweet (Film) (1944)Miss Jane MarpleAgatha Christie"The Tuesday Night Club" (1927)Hemlock MarreauRobert FarrowMarreau and the Chocolate PolicemanMarreau and the Chocolate Policeman (1991)Veronica MarsKeith MarsRob ThomasVeronica Mars (TV) (2004)Mitin MasiSuchitra BhattacharyaPālābāra Patha Nē'iTravis McGeeJohn D. MacDonaldThe Deep Blue Good-byThe Deep Blue Good-by (1964)Kinsey MillhoneSue Grafton"A" Is for AlibiA is for Alibi (1982)Tess MonaghanLaura LippmanBaltimore Blues (1997)Adrian MonkAndy BreckmanMonk (TV) (2002)Bhaduri MoshaiNirendranath ChakravartyTex MurphyChris JonesMean Streets (Video Game) (2004)Mr. NadgettCharles DickensMartin Chuzzlewit. He was the first fictional private investigatorMitzi Brunsdale, Gumshoes: A Dictionary of Fictional Detectives, Introduction, p.3. Also, LeRoy Lad PanekBefore Sherlock Holmes: How Magazines and Newspapers Invented the Detective. p.97 Nameless DetectiveBill PronziniThe SnatchThe Snatch (1971)Harry OrwellHoward RodmanHarry O (TV) (1974)Hercule PoirotAgatha ChristieThe Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920)Ellery QueenFrederic Dannay and Manfred Bennington LeeThe Roman Hat Mystery (1929)Agatha RaisinM.C. BeatonAgatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (1992)Precious RamotsweAlexander McCall SmithThe No. 1 Ladies' Detective AgencyThe No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (1998)Jeff RandallDennis Spooner Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) (TV) (1969)Sunny RandallRobert B. ParkerFamily HonorFamily Honor (1999)Ezekiel "Easy" RawlinsWalter MosleyDevil in a Blue Dress (1990)Jim RockfordRichard T. HeffronThe Rockford Files (TV) (1974)Kiriti Roy Nihar Ranjan Gupta Kalo Bhramar (1930s)Matthew ScudderLawrence BlockThe Sins of the Fathers (1976)John ShaftErnest TidymanShaft (1970)Eddie Shoestring Robert Banks Stewart and Richard Harris Shoestring (TV) (1979)Sam SpadeDashiell HammettThe Maltese FalconThe Maltese Falcon (1930)The Maltese Falcon (Film) (1931)Shawn SpencerSteve Franks and Andy BermanPsych (TV) (2006)SpenserRobert B. ParkerThe Godwulf Manuscript (1973)Larry "Doc" SportelloThomas PynchonInherent Vice (2009)Johnny StaccatoEverett Chambers, producerJohnny Staccato (TV) (1959)Juno SteelHarley Takagi Kaner and Kevin VibertThe Penumbra Podcast (2016)Cormoran StrikeRobert Galbraith"The Cuckoo's Calling" (2013) "Strike" (TV) (2017)Three InvestigatorsRobert Arthur Jr.The Secret of Terror Castle (1964)Tommy and TuppenceAgatha ChristieThe Secret Adversary (1922)Amos WalkerLoren D. EstlemanMotor City BlueMotor City Blue (1980)V. I. WarshawskiSara ParetskyIndemnity Only (1982)Nero WolfeRex StoutFer-de-Lance (1934)

References