Clued In: The best fictional detectives of all time

Can you solve this brain teaser?

After receiving an anonymous phone call, the police raid a house to arrest a suspected murderer. They don’t know what he looks like but they know his name is John and that he is inside the house. The police bust in on a doctor, a builder, a mechanic and a fireman all playing poker. Without hesitation or communication of any kind, they immediately arrest the fireman. How do they know they’ve got their man? (Answer at the end).

Everybody loves a good detective story. A crime is committed (usually a gruesome murder), and the hero detective steps in to solve the case and save the day. Sometimes the detective will work for the police force or forensics; other times they will be a private detective, working independently and outside of government networks. Whatever the case (pardon the pun), the detective nearly always catches the criminal. But why are they so popular?

There are a few contributing factors at work in mystery and thriller novels. The most obvious one is that people love going along for the ride behind the scenes of crime. Gruesome attacks and details pique the interest and imagination of many readers whose lives are filled with bland routine. Gory crimes become a comfortably confronting escape for readers who learn to appreciate the blandness of life without murders.

Another reason that readers love crime novels is to see how their deductive skills of detection stack up against the fictional professionals. I know I love to see if I can figure out the details of the murder before the end, working out who is only written in to be the red herring. For me it adds to the fun of reading, turning it from just a story to an interactive experience.

The final reason is to feel secure in the knowledge that we have some very smart people working together to solve the heinous crimes we see in the news, for sometimes, art can imitate life and vice versa.

I have always wondered whether police detectives-in-training are given a reading list of crime fiction to immerse them into the world and give them alternative perspectives.

Sherlock Holmes created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The most popular fictional character of all time, and not just in crime fiction, Doyle’s private detective has been featured in many spin-offs from movies and television shows, to pastiches and Young Sherlock series. It seems that we just can’t get enough of the genius crime-fighter with his drug addictions and love of violins and bees.I love reading the original stories (as well as the new stories released by other authors) for many reasons. Not only are they well-written, but using John Watson as the narrator makes it that much more exciting as opposed to the Doyle’s two short stories where Sherlock himself narrates the tale. My own amateur skills of deduction have been improved by applying Sherlock’s methods from the stories to real life, from finding lost keys to who ate my lunch. If you haven’t been acquainted with the original stories, then there’s no time like the present. In the words of Sherlock Holmes: “The game is afoot!”
Detective Tom Thorne created by Mark Billingham
A British copper who bends the rules to solve murders, and loves country music and beer. The aptly named Tom Thorne is a haunted, but loveable character who causes issues for all of his superior officers and murderers who think they’re smarter than The Force.I remember the first time I bought a Tom Thorne novel: Sleepyhead. A woman is discovered with a broken neck and suffering from locked-in syndrome (where you can only move your eyes). It turns out that this is the killer’s only successful attack (his previous ones had been killed). Thorne needs to catch the criminal before he or she kills again. The blurb intrigued me and then, after reading, I was hooked on Thorne. The following novels in the series were just as interesting, sparking two seasons of telemovies featuring David Morrisey as the titular detective. I love Billingham’s crime writing, including his solitary works where Tom Thorne usually has a cameo appearance.
Hercule Poirot created by Agatha Christie
The Belgian man with the moustache created by the highly acclaimed and prolific author, Agatha Christie. You may see him on television at the moment with David Suchet playing the lead role, but he is most known for solving the murders on the Orient Express (fictional of course). The killer in this story will surprise you (unless you have been given spoilers, of course).Poirot’s ability to sniff out the details and solve a crime cements his place at number three on my list of best detectives.
Cormoran Strike created by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling)
One-legged, war veteran Strike came into the detective fiction world in a media frenzy. Writing under the pseudonym of Robert Galbraith, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling explored the world of crime with her second novel for adults, The Cuckoo’s Calling. Strike is strapped for cash and in need of a softer cushion for his prosthetic leg, but with his new secretary Robin, he solves the stuffing out of a murder that is made to look like an accident/suicide. Already notorious for being the bastard son of a well-known rockstar, Strike gains more positive publicity for solving what the police couldn’t.
Dr Temperance Brennan created by Kathy Reichs
Played by Emily Deschanel on the popular television series, Bones, Dr Brennan is a forensic anthropologist who goes beyond her job description to solve the crimes. The television series is more based on Kathy Reichs’ life than the series of novels, and the character of Dr Brennan is ultimately different (including Book Brennan being a recovering alcoholic).If you want to see how medical practitioners share a hand in solving murders, then this is a crime series for you. They are similar in reading to Tess Gerritsen’s engaging novels, but I enjoy Reichs’ books more overall.
Detective Erika Foster created by Robert Bryndza.

I really loved reading Bryndza’s series of novels. Set in England, the series follows Erika Foster, a tortured detective, grieving for her husband who was killed in the line of duty. The first book in the series is The Girl in the Ice, which captivates the reader from the very first line and doesn’t let go until you reach the thrilling twist of an ending.

With crime always going to be an issue in society (unfortunate, but true) and technology constantly evolving, crime fiction will always be a popular and significant genre enjoyed by audiences worldwide.

Answer to the riddle: The Fireman was the only male at the table. The doctor, builder and mechanic were all female.

Sidenote: I love this riddle because it uses gender stereotypes to trick the audience. It takes gender unbiased thinking to solve the riddle.

Scott G. Gibson is an independent author living in Queensland with his wife and children. Gibson is the author of five books: Place your hand in mine: An anthology; Making Tracks, a young adult novel; Bad Luck Bevin, a novel for younger readers; and two collections of speculative fiction and horror short stories, Shadows of a Nightmare and Shadows in the Flames.

Social Stalking, or Chance Encounter?

Have you ever felt like you’re being followed? You’re on holiday somewhere thousands of kilometres from your home town. You may be standing in line at the theatre, or walking down a main street checking out the shops. There in front of you is an acquaintance. Somebody you know from your hometown or work. As you chat through the pleasantries, you wonder how this person came to be in that exact place at the same time as you.

Coincidence? Stalking? Or something else? I know I’ve asked myself the same question many times before: What are the chances of it happening?

When my wife and I were on our honeymoon, we were walking through the busy Melbourne streets. Outside of Myer, I ran into (almost literally) someone with whom I had completed a university assessment presentation. After our small talk, we went our separate ways, with my wife and I continuing our day of window shopping.

Another time, my wife and I were eating breakfast at a café in Sunshine Plaza at Maroochydore. One of our colleagues walked past. Then, a few months later, we were going back to the shopping centre for Christmas shopping. “Wouldn’t it be funny to see (our colleague) again?” I said to my wife. Of course, I didn’t think we would actually see him. It was just one of those moments where you share a joke, a joint experience.
However, as I was browsing the business shirt aisle in Myer, I looked across the store, only to see a familiar face. (One guess who it was). Yep. It was the colleague we had seen the last time.

It got me thinking: Out of all the places in the world, and all the time of each day, what had made us choose that moment to go shopping? How many acquaintances did I miss by mere minutes or metres, like two ships in the night?

I came to the conclusion that there were a few elements at play. Firstly, the mix of a large network of friends and acquaintances, and technology making movement quick and easy. Every time we meet someone new, we increase our network. Think about how many friends you’ve made through other friends. Whenever we change jobs, we meet new people. How many people do you know personally in a country (Australia) of over twenty-three million people (seven billion people worldwide)? The majority of places you visit would have some proximity to where you have met these acquaintances. For example, if you went to the shopping centre of the small town where you grew up, chances are that you would run into an old friend. It’s only logical. If it happened to be interstate, then you could assume the other person is on holidays, or has family there; perhaps they may even have moved there for work. Planes make it very quick and easy to traverse across the country within a day, making light work of holiday travelling.

The second element is our brain’s ability to search for the familiar in every situation. Constantly at work, our brain turns our experiences into stories; it’s why the book and film industry is so popular. Even when we sleep, our brain creates stories for itself to keep active. Sometimes we remember our dreams; other times, they escape into the dark abyss of our subconscious memories. When we look at clouds, or patterns (on toast, say), we often find faces. (It’s called pareidolia). To avoid being overwhelmed with new sensory information, our brain finds the familiar as a way to link it together and remember it for future situations. Our anxiety levels decrease when we are familiar with our surrounds, when we recognise the level of safety. Social creatures as we are, finding faces of acquaintances in a crowd makes us feel more comfortable around people we don’t know, in a street we may have never been before.

The final element is our network of friends on social media, such as Facebook. Location services make it easy for our followers to see where we have posted updates, photos and videos. If they are in the same vicinity, they may ‘social stalk’ you in the hope that you may want to catch up. They might even message you to ask first.

So the next time you see somebody you know in a random place, think about how you may have missed them if you were a few minutes earlier or later than you were. I don’t think it is worth constantly being on the look out for people you know. It might not be the people you are hoping for.
Where’s the weirdest place you’ve run into an acquaintance? Leave your experiences in the comments below. Why not share the experience with your friends?

Top 10 Disney films for kids (and adults)

Winter has kept most parts of Australia in its icy grip this year. If you’re anything like me, you love snuggling up on the couch with your family with a hot chocolate and watching your favourite feel-good movie. And nobody makes a feel-good movie like Disney.

Everybody loves watching Disney movies, whether it is a young child, or an adult who reminisces about their favourite childhood films. Whether it’s the score and soundtracks, the storylines, or the magical characters and lands, Disney films warm your heart faster than a crackling fire and a cup of tea.

I’ve compiled a list of my favourite Disney movies of all time. So put up your feet, and relive your happy memories of Disney.

The Lion King (1994)-The Lion King – Courtesy Disney From the opening scene of African savannah, The Lion King draws you into its circle of life, tantalising your senses, and encouraging you to watch it many times over. Simba, a young lion cub, next in line for the throne, is tricked by his uncle, Scar, into believing he killed his father, Mufasa. He goes into exile where he meets the delightful Timon and Pumba. Finally, Simba returns to overthrow the Hitler-esque regime of Scar and reclaim the kingdom.I love this movie for many, many reasons. Firstly, it has a fantastic score and soundtrack, which always gets me singing and dancing like I was young again. I love the wacky characters such as Timon and Pumba, Zazoo, the wisdom of Rafiki and Mufasa, the slyness of Scar. The plot is so wonderfully written, and shares similarities with Shakespeare’s Hamlet. I also love the stage musical version of The Lion King, which is a must-see when it’s in theatres near you. Be prepared to fall in love with this tale all over again.
Up (2009)-Up – Courtesy Disney Pixar The story of a love so deep it extends a lifetime. Carl is a romantic, showing his love for his wife Ellie, who passes away in their old age. Without children, Carl creatively plans to save the house where he spent his married life from a redevelopment project – with helium balloons. Lots and lots and lots of helium balloons.
With a young Wilderness Explorer, Russell, and a talking dog named Dug, they save a bird from extinction and defeat evil.
A heart-warming and inspirational film that shows love truly is a powerful force.
Mary Poppins (1964)-
Based on P.L. Travers’ novels, Mary Poppins is a sing-along classic for audiences of all ages. (See my previous post here). Mary Poppins drifts in with her fancy umbrella in the wind, and saves the Banks family from internal combustion.
It is simply a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious film and is the spoonful of sugar to warm your heart on a cold winter night.
Mulan (1998)- The film showing that women can achieve anything and will bring honour to us all. Set in Ancient China, Mulan fights in her father’s place when he is conscripted to fight the invading Huns. With only Mushu – a small dragon – to help her, Mulan helps lead her army to victory and send the Huns running.Mulan will leave you Hun-gry for more.
Frozen (2013)-Frozen – Courtesy Disney Having created a sensation with its feature song “Let It Go”, Frozen, is a recent addition to the Disney collection, making over 1.2 billion dollars at the box office. (Not to mention the sales of merchandise!) Queen Elsa is a portable snow machine, possessing the ability to create snow and ice at will. She lives with her sister, Anna, after their parents are lost at sea (There are theories that they are Tarzan’s parents.) Elsa’s abilities soon become public knowledge and she runs away. Well, you probably already know the story anyway. With a catchy soundtrack that annoyed many parents, and a chilled personality, there’s ‘snow’ wonder why Frozen is among the best of Disney films.
Aladdin (1992)-
With Robin Williams voicing Genie, how can you go wrong? I have a great memory as a little boy taking the Aladdin colouring book with me, turning Genie into al sorts of colours. Princess Jasmine falls in love with Aladdin, a “street rat”, which is not approved by her father, the Sultan.
It takes kids into a “whole new world” of royalty in the ancient middle-east.
Beauty and the Beast (1991)-
Currently being remade as a live action film with Emma Watson as Belle, this cartoon classic is cemented in the list. This magical tale teaches children that love extends beyond looks, with the Beast stealing Belle’s heart and turning back into his princely self.
One major detail I adore about this film is Belle’s library. I wish I had a similarly large library; it would be the ‘beast’ thing ever!
The Little Mermaid (1989)-The Little Mermaid – Courtesy Disney Based on the fairy tale of the same name by Hans Christian Anderson, The Little Mermaid is still a much-loved classic among children. Ariel is a mermaid princess who dreams of becoming human and walking, and eventually falls in love with Eric, a human prince.
I love the characterisation of characters such as Ursula, and Sebastian the crab. The soundtrack, like many Disney films, has many classic hits. Who doesn’t love singing “Under the Sea”?
Toy Story series (1995, 1999, 2010, 2018) –Toy Story – Courtesy Disney This wonderful series spans a generation where some of the older children who were fans of the original movie had taken their own kids to the movies to see Toy Story 3, fifteen years later. When it first came out, Toy Story created a “buzz” at the box office, earning more than $360 million. The money kept following with its sequels. It also made many children believe their toys came to life when they weren’t around. Where’s the proof that they don’t?
The Toy Story franchise will be enjoyed by audiences forever, or “to infinity and beyond”.
Finding Nemo (2003)-Finding Nemo – Courtesy Disney Pixar With Finding Dory released in June, Finding Nemo has an all-star Australian cast. And Ellen DeGeneres as Dory is the icing on the cake.
With cute fish and a vegetarian shark called Bruce, everybody loves the tale of Marlin the clownfish searching the seas for his son, Nemo, captured by SCUBA divers.
Finding Nemo will teeeeeaaach yoooouuuu hooooowwww tooooo speeeeeak whale, and to keep swimming, no matter what.