I went through a Mystery novel phase in college, digesting vast quantities of Agatha Christie, Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. Clearly, memorable central characters make novels, especially in the mystery genre. Long after I had forgotten plot lines, I could conjure up Miss Marple, with her deceptively demure smile and crone’s understanding of human nature; Hercule Poirot’s meticulous intellect and waxed mustache; Phillip Marlowe and Sam Spade’s hardboiled cynicism and dangling...

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