Detectives, Detectives: My Top 10 Favorite Working Detectives

Detectives, Detectives: My Top 10 Favorite Working Detectives

I recently realized that I have been a TV Detective fanatic for quite some time now. One of my first loves was 'Columbo', starring Peter Falk, and I am pretty sure I watched every episode of 'Remington Steele' starring Pierce Brosnan and Stephanie Zimbalist. Currently, there is no void in my life as far as TV detectives go, and I give you my top ten detectives that are presently working hard on every episode.

Detective Robert Goren, played by Vincent D' Onofrio in 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent', is a very intriguing character with his intellectual way of getting into a criminal's mind in the interrogation room. Detective Goren's eye for detail and a fair amount of innate intuition, it is the slow peeling away of the criminal's façade and breaking them down, that is the strength of the show. Along with Detective Goren is Detective Alex Eames, played by Katherine Erbe. A very tough and spunky little detective, she gives the show a strong contrast to Detective Goren's eccentric character, and together they give each other the strength to deal with their captain and to push the envelope of how to solve each crime.

The detectives in 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'are another set of my favorites. Detective Olivia Benson, played by Mariska Hargitay, is a beautiful and soul-searching sensitive detective who cares deeply for the victims, advocating for them as much as she can. The depth of her character is a strong suit of the series along with her partner Detective Elliot Stabler, played by Christopher Meloni, who fights his own demons with little patience and lots of volatile temperament. There is no chance of getting bored with this series, especially when you add in Detective John Munch, played by veteran Richard Belzer. I love his sarcastic quips, cynicsim and passionate opinions, and he's not afraid to go against the grain with how he feels on any sensitive or controversial subject. His very street smart partner, Detective Tutola 'Fin' Odafin, played by Ice-T, gives the pair a gritty, earthy contrast to the rest of the detectives in the unit.

Who couldn't love the cracked character of Detective Adrian Monk, played by Tony Shaloub in 'Monk'? He feels like a family member now and although the series will air their last season, we'll never have to be without our Monk. A lighter side of the detective shows, Mr. Monk solves crimes with his ability to see the slightest detail that everyone else misses or assumes isn't important. I love the way the episodes unfold with Mr. Monk and his obsessive-compulsive disorder as the comic relief to the nasty facts of murder.

The 'Mentalist', starring the unconventional and most handsome DetectivePatrick Jane, played by Simon Baker, is a delightful and joyous journey to crime solving with sarcasm and intellectual philosophy thrown in for good measure. The crime itself becomes less gruesome with the antics of Detective Jane. Along with his shining smile and a calm demeanor to solve crime, the series is a breath of different air and I give it a big 'thumbs up'.

I am also a huge fan of the series Cold Case' with Detective Lilly Rush, played by Kathryn Morris. She's another sensitive soul in the world of crime solving who has to delve into the past to solve past crimes which can open up many old wounds and unlikely surprises as to who the killer really was. The stories are weaved back and forth between the differences in time and keeps you entertained the whole way.

Last on my list is Detective Neal Caffrey, played by Matt Bomer, another handsome devil fighting crime. His conman turned FBI consultant character is another great twist on crime solving and there isn't much blood you have to see with this show. I am looking forward to the new season.