Ever noticed how detectives on screen have this uncanny knack for piecing together chaos into a neat little bow? Maybe it’s because today’s cosmic lineup has Mercury, the planet of communication and sharp thinking, doing a little salsa with Uranus — the rebel with a cause — shaking up the zodiac with bursts of unexpected brilliance. Kinda like our favorite fictional sleuths, right? I set out to craft the ultimate ranking of these crime-solving geniuses, but then—plot twist!—I realized every single one I considered is just flat-out amazing. Makes total sense. If they weren’t, they’d be mall cops—no shade to mall cops, mind you. So here’s my take on some of the best fictional detectives who’ve made us squint at clues and binge-watch ’til reality blurs. Heads up though: this is all based on what I’ve watched, so if your personal fave didn’t make the list, it’s not a diss, just my limited viewing peccadillo. Curious to see who cracked the case? LEARN MORE.

As an avid lover of crime procedurals, I planned to share my definitive ranking of fictional detectives. But then I realized everyone I wanted to include are ALL amazing detectives. Makes sense” that’s why they’re detectives. Otherwise they would be mall cops (no offense to mall cops). So, here’s a list of some of the best fictional detectives to ever grace our screens:

Note: This ranking is based on movies and shows that I’ve seen, so before you get upset if your fave isn’t on this list, I haven’t seen EVERYTHING.

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