Private investigator

A private investigator, or PI, is a person who undertakes

PIs in Fiction

Perhaps the most famous fictional PI is the Sherlock Holmes character created by Arthur Conan Doyle, who would refer to himself in the jargon of his age as a "private inquiries agent." (See Crime fiction for details.)

Related Topics:
Sherlock Holmes - Arthur Conan Doyle - Crime fiction

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Since about the 1940's, PIs have also been frequently found in fiction as a stock character; they are a hero archetype who stumbles into detective stories to solve a mystery case, whether it be a whodunit murder or other crime activity. The PI is usually cool, relaxed and intelligent. A stereotypical look would have him drink whiskey, smoke, dress in a raincoat and fedora and be a good marksman.

Related Topics:
Stock character - Whodunit - Smoke - Fedora

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~