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Occult detective fiction is a subgenre of detective fiction that combines the tropes of the main genre with those of supernatural, fantasy and/or
horror fiction Horror is a genre of fiction which is intended to frighten, scare, or disgust. Horror is often divided into the sub-genres of psychological horror and supernatural horror, which is in the realm of speculative fiction. Literary historian J. ...
. Unlike the traditional detective who investigates murder and other common crimes, the
occult The occult, in the broadest sense, is a category of esoteric supernatural beliefs and practices which generally fall outside the scope of religion and science, encompassing phenomena involving otherworldly agency, such as magic and mysticism ...
detective is employed in cases involving ghosts, demons,
curse A curse (also called an imprecation, malediction, execration, malison, anathema, or commination) is any expressed wish that some form of adversity or misfortune will befall or attach to one or more persons, a place, or an object. In particular, ...
s,
magic Magic or Magick most commonly refers to: * Magic (supernatural), beliefs and actions employed to influence supernatural beings and forces * Ceremonial magic, encompasses a wide variety of rituals of magic * Magical thinking, the belief that unrel ...
, vampires,
undead The undead are beings in mythology, legend, or fiction that are deceased but behave as if alive. Most commonly the term refers to corporeal forms of formerly-alive humans, such as mummies, vampires, and zombies, who have been reanimated b ...
, monsters and other supernatural elements. Some occult detectives are portrayed as being psychic or in possession of other paranormal or magical powers.


History


Literature

Fitz James O’Brien’s character Harry Escott is a contender for first occult detective in fiction. A specialist in supernatural phenomena, Escott investigates a ghost in "The Pot of Tulips" (1855) and an invisible entity in "What Was It? A Mystery" (1859). The narrator of
Edward Bulwer-Lytton Edward George Earle Lytton Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton, PC (25 May 180318 January 1873) was an English writer and politician. He served as a Whig member of Parliament from 1831 to 1841 and a Conservative from 1851 to 1866. He was Secret ...
’s novella "The Haunted and the Haunters; or, The House and the Brain" (1859) is another student of the supernatural who probes a mystery involving a culprit with paranormal abilities. Sheridan Le Fanu's Dr. Martin Hesselius appeared in "Green Tea" (1869) and later became a framing device for Le Fanu's short story collection '' In a Glass Darkly'' (1872). For most of its plot, ''
The Hound of the Baskervilles ''The Hound of the Baskervilles'' is the third of the four crime novels by British writer Arthur Conan Doyle featuring the detective Sherlock Holmes. Originally serialised in ''The Strand Magazine'' from August 1901 to April 1902, it is set ...
'', one of Sherlock Holmes's most well-known adventures, seems to belong in this genre. However, by the story's end, the villain turns out to be completely human and mundane, who deliberately created this misleading impression. The next prominent figure in this tradition was Dr.
Abraham Van Helsing Professor Abraham Van Helsing, a fictional character from the 1897 gothic horror novel '' Dracula'', is an aged Dutch polymath doctor with a wide range of interests and accomplishments, partly attested by the string of letters that follows h ...
in
Bram Stoker Abraham Stoker (8 November 1847 – 20 April 1912) was an Irish author who is celebrated for his 1897 Gothic horror novel ''Dracula''. During his lifetime, he was better known as the personal assistant of actor Sir Henry Irving and busines ...
's '' Dracula'' (1897), followed closely by E. and H. Heron's
Flaxman Low Flaxman Low is a fictional character created by British authors Hesketh Hesketh-Prichard and his mother, Kate O'Brien Ryall Prichard, published under the pseudonyms "H. Heron" and "E. Heron". Low is credited with being the first psychic detective o ...
, featured in a series of stories in ''Pearson's Magazine'' (1898–99),
Algernon Blackwood Algernon Henry Blackwood, CBE (14 March 1869 – 10 December 1951) was an English broadcasting narrator, journalist, novelist and short story writer, and among the most prolific ghost story writers in the history of the genre. The literary crit ...
's Dr. John Silence, and
William Hope Hodgson William Hope Hodgson (15 November 1877 – 19 April 1918) was an English author. He produced a large body of work, consisting of essays, short fiction, and novels, spanning several overlapping genres including horror, fantastic fiction, and sci ...
's Carnacki the Ghost Finder. Other supernatural sleuths in fiction dating to the late nineteenth century include
Alice & Claude Askew Alice Askew, née Leake (18 June 18746 October 1917)Death notice in '' The Times'', 15 October 1917, p. 11Two news clippings from the '' Daily Express'', Tuesday, 16 October 1917, and Thursday, 18 October 1917 (page numbers unknown) – the first ...
's Aylmer Vance and Champion de Crespigny's Norton Vyse.
Thomas Carnacki Thomas Carnacki is a fictional occult detective created by English fantasy writer William Hope Hodgson. Carnacki was the protagonist of a series of six short stories published between 1910 and 1912 in '' The Idler'' magazine and ''The New Magaz ...
may well be considered one of the first true occult detectives, as he combined both knowledge and experience of what he calls “the ab-natural” with scientific deductive method and equipment. The adventures of Carnacki have been continued by a number of writers, including A. F. Kidd in collaboration with
Rick Kennett Rick Kennett'(born 1956) is an Australian writer of science fiction, horror and ghost stories. He is the most prolific and widely published genre author in Australia after Paul Collins (fantasy writer), Paul Collins, Terry Dowling and Greg Egan, ...
in ''472 Cheyne Walk: Carnacki, the Untold Stories'' (2000), William Meikle in ''Carnacki: Heaven and Hell'' (Colusa, CA: Ghost House Press, 2011), Brandon Barrows in ''The Castle-Town Tragedy'' (Dunhams Manor, 2016), and others. In addition, writers Joshua M Reynolds and John Linwood Grant have each produced a separate series of stories which follow on from Carnacki's death, and feature occult detectives whose work relates to the original tales - ''The Adventures of the Royal Occultist'' and ''Tales of the Last Edwardian'' respectively.
Sax Rohmer Arthur Henry "Sarsfield" Ward (15 February 1883 – 1 June 1959), better known as Sax Rohmer, was an English novelist. He is best remembered for his series of novels featuring the master criminal Dr. Fu Manchu."Rohmer, Sax" by Jack Adrian in Da ...
's collection ''The Dream Detective'' features the occult detective Moris Klaw, who utilises "odic force" in his investigations. The occultist
Dion Fortune Dion Fortune (born Violet Mary Firth, 6 December 1890 – 6 January 1946) was a British occultist, ceremonial magician, novelist and author. She was a co-founder of the Fraternity of the Inner Light, an occult organisation that promoted ph ...
made her contribution to the genre with ''The Secrets of Dr Taverner'' (1926), consisting of psychic adventures of the Holmes–like Taverner as narrated by his assistant, Dr Rhodes.
Aleister Crowley Aleister Crowley (; born Edward Alexander Crowley; 12 October 1875 – 1 December 1947) was an English occultist, ceremonial magician, poet, painter, novelist, and mountaineer. He founded the religion of Thelema, identifying himself as the pr ...
's
Simon Iff Simon Iff is the protagonist of a series of short detective stories written by occultist Aleister Crowley. He is portrayed as a mystic, magician, world traveller, high society figure and great detective who is advanced in years but possesses a thor ...
featured in a series of stories, some of which have been collected in book form. Dennis Wheatley's occult detective was Neils Orsen. In Poland Włodzimierz Bełcikowski created two stories (''W walce ze Złotym Smokiem'' - ''In Battle with Golden Dragon'' - 1925; ''Tajemnica wiecznego życia'' - ''The Secret of Eternal Life'' - 1926) about William Talmes (Holmes' rip off but with occult/parapsychic powers and inventor's skills) battling murderous oriental sect and psychic vampire from
Atlantis Atlantis ( grc, Ἀτλαντὶς νῆσος, , island of Atlas) is a fictional island mentioned in an allegory on the hubris of nations in Plato's works '' Timaeus'' and ''Critias'', wherein it represents the antagonist naval power that b ...
. Though never large, the occult detective subgenre grew to include such writers as
Seabury Quinn Seabury Grandin Quinn (also known as Jerome Burke; December 1889 – December 24, 1969) was an American government lawyer, journalist, and pulp magazine author, most famous for his stories of the occult detective Jules de Grandin, published in ' ...
(with his character
Jules de Grandin Jules de Grandin is a fictional occult detective that, from 1925-1951, starred in over 90 short stories by Seabury Quinn in the pulp magazine anthology series ''Weird Tales''. In the pages of Weird Tales, Quinn also authored a serialized novel fe ...
);
Manly Wade Wellman Manly Wade Wellman (May 21, 1903 – April 5, 1986) was an American writer. While his science fiction and fantasy stories appeared in such pulps as ''Astounding Stories'', ''Startling Stories'', ''Unknown'' and '' Strange Stories'', Wellman i ...
, whose character John Thunstone investigated occult events through short stories in the pulps, collected in ''The Third Cry to Legba and Other Invocations'' (2000) and in the novels '' What Dreams May Come'' (1983) and ''The School of Darkness'' (1985); and "Jack Mann" ( E. C. Vivian), who chronicled the adventure of his occult detective Gregory Gordon George Green, known as "Gees", in a series of novels.
Pulp Pulp may refer to: * Pulp (fruit), the inner flesh of fruit Engineering * Dissolving pulp, highly purified cellulose used in fibre and film manufacture * Pulp (paper), the fibrous material used to make paper * Molded pulp, a packaging material * ...
writer
Robert E. Howard Robert Ervin Howard (January 22, 1906June 11, 1936) was an American writer. He wrote pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. He is well known for his character Conan the Barbarian and is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery subge ...
created stories about Steve Harrison, an occult detective, in the ''Strange Detective Stories'' magazine. Margery Lawrence created the character Miles Pennoyer in her occult detective stories collected in '' Number Seven, Queer Street''. Modern writers who have used the occult detective theme as a basis for supernatural adventures include
Peter Saxon Peter Saxon is a pen name used by various thriller authors from the 1950s to the 1970s. History The pseudonym "Peter Saxon" was originally used by Irish pulp fiction writer and journalist W. Howard Baker at Amalgamated Press, mostly for novels in t ...
(The Guardians series), John Burke (Dr Alex Caspian), Frank Lauria (Dr Owen Orient),
Lin Carter Linwood Vrooman Carter (June 9, 1930 – February 7, 1988) was an American author of science fiction and fantasy, as well as an editor, poet and critic. He usually wrote as Lin Carter; known pseudonyms include H. P. Lowcraft (for an H. P. ...
(Anton Zarnak), William Massa (Occult Assassin, The Paranormalist, Shadow Detective, Spirit Breakers) and
Joseph Payne Brennan Joseph Payne Brennan (December 20, 1918 – January 28, 1990) was an American writer of fantasy and horror fiction, and also a poet. Of Irish ancestry, he was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and he lived most of his life in New Haven, Connecti ...
(Lucius Leffing). The occult detective theme has also been used with series characters devised by such contemporary writers as Douglas Adams (
Dirk Gently Dirk Gently (born Svlad Cjelli, also known as Dirk Cjelli) is a fictional character created by English writer Douglas Adams and featured in the books ''Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency'', ''The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul'' and ''The ...
),
F. Paul Wilson Francis Paul Wilson (born May 17, 1946, in Jersey City, New Jersey) is an American medical doctor and author of horror, adventure, medical thrillers, science fiction, and other genres of literary fiction. His books include the Repairman Jack n ...
(the Repairman Jack series), Steve Rasnic Tem (Charlie Goode), Jessica Amanda Salmonson (Miss Penelope Pettiweather), David Rowlands (Father O'Connor),
Rick Kennett Rick Kennett'(born 1956) is an Australian writer of science fiction, horror and ghost stories. He is the most prolific and widely published genre author in Australia after Paul Collins (fantasy writer), Paul Collins, Terry Dowling and Greg Egan, ...
(Ernie Pine),
Brian Lumley Brian Lumley (born 2 December 1937) is an English author of horror fiction. He came to prominence in the 1970s writing in the Cthulhu Mythos created by American writer H. P. Lovecraft but featuring the new character Titus Crow, and went on to ...
(
Titus Crow Titus Crow is the main character in the eponymous series of horror fiction books by Brian Lumley. The books are based on H. P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos. Description In a departure from many Cthulhu Mythos stories, Lumley's characters are not he ...
), Robert Weinberg (Sydney Taine),
Simon R. Green Simon Richard Green (born 25 August 1955) is a British science fiction and fantasy author. Green was born in Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire. He holds a degree in modern English and American literature from the University of Leicester. He began ...
(John Taylor),
Steve Niles Steve Niles (born June 21, 1965) is an American comic book author and novelist, known for works such as '' 30 Days of Night'', '' Criminal Macabre: A Cal McDonald Mystery'', '' Simon Dark'', ''Mystery Society'', and '' Batman: Gotham County Line'' ...
( Cal McDonald), Mike Carey (Felix Castor), Mike Mignola ( Joe Golem),
Mercedes Lackey Mercedes Ritchie Lackey (born June 24, 1950) is an American writer of fantasy novels. Many of her novels and trilogies are interlinked and set in the world of Velgarth, mostly in and around the country of Valdemar. Her Valdemar novels include ...
( Diana Tregarde),
Laurell K. Hamilton Laurell Kaye Hamilton (born February 19, 1963) is an American fantasy and romance writer. She is best known as the author of two series of stories. Her ''New York Times''-bestselling '' Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter'' series centers on Anita Bl ...
(
Anita Blake Anita Blake is the title and viewpoint character of the '' Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter'' series by Laurell K. Hamilton. The series takes place in a parallel world in which supernatural characters like vampires and werewolves exist alongside regul ...
),
Brian Keene Brian Keene (born September 22, 1967) is an American author and podcaster, primarily known for his work in horror, dark fantasy, crime fiction, and comic books. He has won the 2014 World Horror Grandmaster Award and two Bram Stoker Awards. In ad ...
(Levi Stoltzfus), Jonathan L. Howard (Johannes Cabal), and
Jonathan Maberry Jonathan Maberry (born May 18, 1958) is an American suspense author, anthology editor, comic book writer, magazine feature writer, playwright, content creator and writing teacher/lecturer. He was named one of the Today's Top Ten Horror Writers. ...
(Sam Hunter).
Jim Butcher Jim Butcher (born October 26, 1971) is an American author., He has written the contemporary fantasy ''The Dresden Files'', '' Codex Alera'', and '' Cinder Spires'' book series. Personal life Butcher was born in Independence, Missouri, in 1971. ...
's best-selling book series
The Dresden Files ''The Dresden Files'' is a series of contemporary fantasy/ mystery novels written by American author Jim Butcher. The first novel, '' Storm Front''—which was also Butcher's writing debut—was published in 2000 by Roc Books. The books are wr ...
is another well-known example. Randall Garrett's Lord Darcy stories and
Dean Koontz Dean Ray Koontz (born July 9, 1945) is an American author. His novels are billed as suspense thrillers, but frequently incorporate elements of horror, fantasy, science fiction, mystery, and satire. Many of his books have appeared on ''The New ...
's ''The Haunted Earth'' are examples in which occult detectives operate in a world where the occult is simply an accepted part of mundane life. Assaph Mehr's Stories of Togas, Daggers, and Magic combine historical mystery detective in ancient Rome with fantasy and occult elements. A useful recent anthology collecting specimens of the genre is
Mark Valentine Mark Valentine is an English short story author, editor and essayist on book-collecting. Short stories Valentine's short stories have been published in a number of collections and in anthologies. ''The Collected Connoisseur'' (Tartarus Press, 2010 ...
, ed., ''The Black Veil & Other Tales of Supernatural Sleuths'' (), published by Wordsworth Editions in 2009. Earlier themed anthologies include Stephen Jones, ed., ''
Dark Detectives ''Dark Detectives: Adventures of the Supernatural Sleuths'' is an anthology of fantasy and horror detective stories edited by Stephen Jones. It was published by F & B Mystery in 1999 in an edition of 2,100 copies of which 100 were signed by all ...
: Adventures of the Supernatural Sleuths'' (Fedogan & Bremer, 1998) and Peter Haining, ed., ''Supernatural Sleuths: Stories of Occult Investigators'' (William Kimber, 1986). The magazine ''Occult Detective Quarterly'' (Electric Pentacle Press, 2016) specialises in presenting a wide range of new occult detective tales set in a range of time periods, with the occasional pastiche of classic figures from this branch of fiction. ODQ moved to Ulthar Press in 2017. On the tragic death of Sam Gafford of Ulthar Press, it was decided that editors, John Linwood Grant & Dave Brzeski, would continue the magazine under the revised title of Occult Detective Magazine from #6 onward. It is now published by Cathaven Press in the UK. It seemed somehow fitting that refugees from Ulthar should go to Cathaven. File:John Silence.jpg, File:Sâr Dubnotal n° 05 - La Grève sanglante.jpg, File:Dream Detective--moris klaw.jpg, File:WeirdTalesv30n4pg411 Jules de Grandin.png,


Film and television

In the 1970s, there were a number of attempts at occult detective
television series A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, or cable, excluding breaking news, advertisements, or trailers that are typically placed bet ...
and films. While not overtly occult detectives, the heroes and heroine of the ITC cult classic sci-fi thriller series, '' The Champions'' inherited occult powers from a Tibetan lama and used these powers to investigate crime. Other examples include '' Fear No Evil'' (1969) and its sequel, ''
Ritual of Evil ''Ritual of Evil'' is a 1970 American made-for-television drama horror film directed by Robert Day and starring Louis Jourdan. It was made as a sequel to '' Fear No Evil'' (1969), which also starred Louis Jourdan as Dr. Sorrell. Plot Psychiatris ...
'' (1970), starring
Louis Jourdan Louis Jourdan (born Louis Robert Gendre; 19 June 1921 – 14 February 2015) was a French film and television actor. He was known for his suave roles in several Hollywood films, including Alfred Hitchcock's '' The Paradine Case'' (1947), ''Lette ...
as psychologist David Sorrell; ''The Sixth Sense'' (TV series) (1972) starring Gary Collins as a psychic investigator; '' The Norliss Tapes'' (1973) with
Roy Thinnes Roy Thinnes (born April 6, 1938) is an American television and film actor best known for his portrayal of lonely hero David Vincent in the ABC 1967–68 television series ''The Invaders''. He starred in the 1969 British science fiction film '' ...
as a reporter investigating the supernatural; '' Baffled!'' (1973), a British production with
Leonard Nimoy Leonard Simon Nimoy (; March 26, 1931 – February 27, 2015) was an American actor, famed for playing Spock in the '' Star Trek'' franchise for almost 50 years. This includes originating Spock in the original ''Star Trek'' series in 1966, th ...
and
Susan Hampshire Susan Hampshire, Lady Kulukundis, (born 12 May 1937) is an English actress known for her many television and film roles. A three-time Emmy Award winner, she won for ''The Forsyte Saga'' in 1970, '' The First Churchills'' in 1969, and for '' Van ...
vs. an evil occult society; ''
God Told Me To ''God Told Me To'' (released in some theatrical markets as ''Demon'') is a 1976 science fiction horror film written, directed, and produced by Larry Cohen. Like many of Cohen's films, it is shot on location in New York City and incorporates aspe ...
'', a 1976 horror and detective film with police procedural and paranormal elements; ''
Spectre Spectre, specter or the spectre may refer to: Religion and spirituality * Vision (spirituality) * Apparitional experience * Ghost Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Spectre'' (1977 film), a made-for-television film produced and wri ...
'' (1977), starring
Robert Culp Robert Martin Culp (August 16, 1930 – March 24, 2010) was an American actor widely known for his work in television. Culp earned an international reputation for his role as Kelly Robinson on ''I Spy'' (1965–1968), the espionage television se ...
and
Gig Young Gig Young (born Byron Elsworth Barr; November 4, 1913 – October 19, 1978) was an American actor. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performances in '' Come Fill the Cup'' (1952) and ''Teacher's Pet'' ...
as criminologists turned demonologists; ''The World of Darkness'' (1977) and its sequel, '' The World Beyond'' (1978), starring
Granville Van Dusen Granville Van Dusen (born March 16, 1944 in Grand Rapids, Minnesota) is an American stage, screen, and voice actor who portrayed Race Bannon in the 1986 television series ''The New Adventures of Jonny Quest'', '' Jonny's Golden Quest'', '' Jonny ...
as a man who battles the supernatural following his own near death experience. The most successful effort of this period was the short-lived television series, '' Kolchak: The Night Stalker'' (1974–75), starring
Darren McGavin Darren is a masculine given name of uncertain etymological origins. Some theories state that it originated from an Anglicisation of the Irish first name Darragh or Dáire, meaning "Oak Tree". According to other sources, it is thought to come from ...
; the weekly series was based on two backdoor pilots ('' The Night Stalker'' and '' The Night Strangler'') produced by Dan Curtis and scripted by
Richard Matheson Richard Burton Matheson (February 20, 1926 – June 23, 2013) was an American author and screenwriter, primarily in the fantasy, horror, and science fiction genres. He is best known as the author of '' I Am Legend'', a 1954 science ficti ...
, based on an unpublished work by Jeff Rice. Kolchak's adventures have been continued in books by Rice and in the
comic book A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are oft ...
''Kolchak Tales''. Matheson's ''Kolchak Scripts'' have also been published. The
Saturday morning cartoon "Saturday-morning cartoon" is a colloquial term for the original animated series programming that was typically scheduled on Saturday and Sunday mornings in the United States on the "Big Three" television networks. The genre's popularity had a b ...
'' Scooby-Doo'' followed an occult detective format, though in the earlier series the apparent occult influences were all revealed as (fully natural) tricksters. In the wake of ''Scooby-Doo's'' success, several of the follow-ups from Hanna-Barbera involved varying degrees of occult and supernatural influence, including ''
Goober and the Ghost Chasers ''Goober and the Ghost Chasers'' is an animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, broadcast on ABC from September 8, 1973, to August 30, 1975. A total of 16 half-hour episodes of ''Goober and the Ghost Chasers'' were produc ...
'', ''
The Funky Phantom ''The Funky Phantom'' is an animated television series, produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, in association with Australian production company Air Programs International for the American Broadcasting Company (ABC). The show was a clone of Hanna ...
'', and some of the 1980s entries in the ''Scooby-Doo'' franchise. To keep the plotlines suitable for Saturday morning audiences, the occult villains were kept
family-friendly A family-friendly product or service is one that is considered to be suitable for all members of an average family. Family-friendly restaurants are ones that provide service to families that have young children. Frequently, family-friendly produc ...
. More recent examples include: ''
Angel Heart ''Angel Heart'' is a 1987 American neo-noir psychological horror film, an adaptation of William Hjortsberg's 1978 novel '' Falling Angel''. The film was written and directed by Alan Parker, and stars Mickey Rourke, Robert De Niro, Lisa Bonet, ...
'', ''
The Believers ''The Believers'' is a 1987 Canadian-American crime thriller horror film directed by John Schlesinger, starring Martin Sheen, Robert Loggia and Helen Shaver. It is based on the 1982 novel '' The Religion'' by Nicholas Conde. Plot After his w ...
'', '' Blood Ties'', '' Constantine'', ''
The Dresden Files ''The Dresden Files'' is a series of contemporary fantasy/ mystery novels written by American author Jim Butcher. The first novel, '' Storm Front''—which was also Butcher's writing debut—was published in 2000 by Roc Books. The books are wr ...
'', '' Dylan Dog: Dead of Night'', ''
The Exorcist III ''The Exorcist III'' is a 1990 American psychological horror film written and directed by William Peter Blatty. It is the third installment in the ''Exorcist'' series, an adaptation of Blatty's ''Exorcist'' novel '' Legion'' (1983), and the f ...
'', ''
Forever Knight ''Forever Knight'' is a Canadian television series about Nick Knight, an 800-year-old vampire working as a police detective in modern-day Toronto, Ontario. Wracked with guilt for centuries of killing others, he seeks redemption by working as a h ...
'', '' Grimm'', ''
Lord of Illusions ''Lord of Illusions'' is a 1995 American neo-noir supernatural horror film written and directed by Clive Barker, based on his own short story "The Last Illusion" published in 1985 in the anthology ''Books of Blood'' Volume 6. The same story introd ...
'', '' Lucifer'', ''
The Ninth Gate ''The Ninth Gate'' is a 1999 neo-noir horror thriller film directed, produced, and co-written by Roman Polanski. An international co-production between the United States, Portugal, France, and Spain, the film is loosely based upon Arturo Pér ...
'', ''
!Oka Tokat ''!Oka Tokat'' was a Philippine paranormal horror-action-thriller drama which originally aired on ABS-CBN from June 24, 1997 to May 7, 2002 every Tuesday night replacing ''Abangan ang Susunod na Kabanata''. It starred Ricky Davao, Carmina Vil ...
'', '' Penny Dreadful'', ''
R.I.P.D. ''R.I.P.D.'', also marketed as ''R.I.P.D.: Rest in Peace Department'', is a 2013 American supernatural action comedy film starring Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds. The film was directed by Robert Schwentke and written by Phil Hay and Matt Man ...
'', ''
Special Unit 2 ''Special Unit 2'' is an American sci-fi/comedy television series that aired on UPN for two seasons from April 11, 2001 through February 13, 2002. The series focused upon the exploits of a top-secret Chicago police division known as Special Un ...
'', '' Split Second'', '' Supernatural'', '' Twin Peaks'', '' Vidocq'', ''
The X-Files ''The X-Files'' is an American science fiction drama television series created by Chris Carter. The series revolves around Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), who ...
'', ''
Millennium A millennium (plural millennia or millenniums) is a period of one thousand years, sometimes called a kiloannus, kiloannum (ka), or kiloyear (ky). Normally, the word is used specifically for periods of a thousand years that begin at the starting ...
'', ''
Angel In various theistic religious traditions an angel is a supernatural spiritual being who serves God. Abrahamic religions often depict angels as benevolent celestial intermediaries between God (or Heaven) and humanity. Other roles include ...
'', and ''
The Vampire Detective ''The Vampire Detective'' () is a South Korean television drama starring Lee Joon, Oh Jung-se, Lee Se-young and Lee Chung-ah. The series aired on Sundays, from March 27, 2016, to June 12, 2016, on OCN for 12 episodes. Plot Yoon San (Lee Jo ...
''.


Comics, manga, and anime

Doctor Occult Doctor Occult (sometimes dubbed the Ghost Detective, one time referred to as Doctor Mystic) is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster (known commonly as the creators ...
, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, was one of the earliest occult detectives in comic books with a 1935 debut. Doctor Occult was first a costumed superhero but his appearance quickly changed to a more typical detective (Fedora hat and long coat).
The Phantom Stranger The Phantom Stranger is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, of unspecified paranormal origins, who battles mysterious and occult forces, sometimes under their Vertigo imprint. The character first appeared in an ...
, created by John Broome and
Carmine Infantino Carmine Michael Infantino (; May 24, 1925 – April 4, 2013) was an American comics artist and editing, editor, primarily for DC Comics, during the late 1950s and early 1960s period known as the Silver Age of Comic Books. Among his character creat ...
, first appeared in an eponymous six-issue
comics anthology A comics anthology collects works in the medium of comics, typically from multiple series, and compiles them into an anthology or magazine. The comics in these anthologies range from comic strips that are too short for standalone publication to co ...
published in 1952, first as a debunker of fake supernatural events but later incarnations showed him with mystical or supernatural abilities. Doctor Occult and the Phantom Stranger were both published by DC Comics, with Occult falling into obscurity for decades before a 1980s revival, while the Phantom Stranger appeared steadily from his debut if mostly in a supporting role. The comic book '' Hellblazer'' began in the 1980s and boosted the popularity and image of the occult detective fiction genre and shaped it to its modern form. Many modern examples of the genre such as ''
Hellboy Hellboy is a fictional superhero created by writer-artist Mike Mignola. The character first appeared in ''San Diego Comic-Con Comics'' #2 (August 1993), and has since appeared in various eponymous miniseries, one-shots and intercompany crossover ...
'', '' Supernatural'', '' Grimm'', '' The Originals'', and ''
The Dresden Files ''The Dresden Files'' is a series of contemporary fantasy/ mystery novels written by American author Jim Butcher. The first novel, '' Storm Front''—which was also Butcher's writing debut—was published in 2000 by Roc Books. The books are wr ...
'' have been influenced by it, and many imitators of both the series and its character flourished such as ''
Criminal Macabre ''Criminal Macabre: A Cal McDonald Mystery'' is a comic book series starring Cal McDonald, an antihero American comic book character created in 1990 by writer Steve Niles. The character's adventures have been published by Dark Horse Comics and lat ...
'', ''
Gravel Gravel is a loose aggregation of rock fragments. Gravel occurs naturally throughout the world as a result of sedimentary and erosive geologic processes; it is also produced in large quantities commercially as crushed stone. Gravel is classifi ...
'', '' Planetary'', and others. Its elements and style have been used countless of times in other works and many analogues of the cynical protagonist
John Constantine John Constantine () is a fictional character who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. Constantine first appeared in ''Swamp Thing'' #37 (June 1985), and was created by Alan Moore, Stephen R. Bissette, Rick Veitch, and John To ...
have appeared. November 13, 2012 Other examples of occult detectives in comic books include
Doctor Spektor Doctor Spektor is a fictional comic book " occult detective" that appeared in Western Publishing's Gold Key Comics.Plowright, Frank ''The Slings and Arrows Comic Guide''. Great Britain : Slings & Arrows, 2003 (p.189) Created by writer Donald F. G ...
from Gold Key Comics,
Hellboy Hellboy is a fictional superhero created by writer-artist Mike Mignola. The character first appeared in ''San Diego Comic-Con Comics'' #2 (August 1993), and has since appeared in various eponymous miniseries, one-shots and intercompany crossover ...
from the Dark Horse series of same name,
Dylan Dog ''Dylan Dog'' is an Italian horror comics series created by Tiziano Sclavi and published by Sergio Bonelli Editore since 1986. The series features the eponymous character, a paranormal investigator who takes on cases involving supernatural el ...
from the
Sergio Bonelli Editore Sergio Bonelli Editore (formerly CEPIM and other names) is a publishing house of Italian comics founded in 1940 by Gian Luigi Bonelli (1908–2001). It takes its name from its former president, comic book writer Sergio Bonelli (1932–2011), son of ...
series, Nightlinger by Steven Philip Jones and published by
Caliber Comics Caliber Comics or Caliber Press is an American comic book publisher founded in 1989 by Gary Reed. Featuring primarily creator-owned comics, Caliber published over 1,300 comics in the decade following its inception and is ranked as one of America ...
; certain elements and characters in ''
The Goon ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...
''; Martin Hel, a character created by Robin Wood; the '' Joe Golem'' series; and '' Witchblade'' from Top Cow Productions. Two ''Hellblazer'' writers have gone on to write their own occult detective characters: ''
Sebastian O ''Sebastian O'' is a comic book series written by Grant Morrison, drawn by Steve Yeowell and published by the Vertigo imprint of DC Comics in 1993. Publication history ''Sebastian O'' was originally commissioned by editor Art Young for Disney ...
'' also at Vertigo by Grant Morrison and
Warren Ellis Warren Girard Ellis (born 16 February 1968) is a British comic book writer, novelist, and screenwriter. He is best known as the co-creator of several original comics series, including ''Transmetropolitan'' (1997–2002), ''Global Frequency'' ( ...
' ''
Gravel Gravel is a loose aggregation of rock fragments. Gravel occurs naturally throughout the world as a result of sedimentary and erosive geologic processes; it is also produced in large quantities commercially as crushed stone. Gravel is classifi ...
'' from
Avatar Press Avatar Press is an independent American comic book publisher founded in 1996 by William A. Christensen, and based in Rantoul, Illinois. Avatar Press is most notable for publishing bad girl comics, such as ''Faust'', ''Pandora'', ''Hellina'', ''L ...
. '' 2000 AD'' has featured a number over the years in their own eponymous series: '' Bix Barton'', ''Devlin Waugh'', ''
Ampney Crucis Investigates This is a list of minor '' 2000 AD'' stories. Stories A Absalom ''Absalom'' is a horror story spin-off from '' Caballistics, Inc.'' by Gordon Rennie and Tiernen Trevallion. The stories were "Noblesse Obligie" in ''2000 AD'' #1732–1739 ( ...
'' and '' Dandridge''. The occult detective team of Syd Deadlocke and Doc Martin, featured in ''Pulse of Darkness'' and other comics by Chris G.C. Sequeira, also fits into this genre. There is also the comic book series ''
Ruse Ruse may refer to: Places *Ruse, Bulgaria, a major city of Bulgaria **Ruse Municipality **Ruse Province ** 19th MMC – Ruse, a constituency *Ruše, a town and municipality in north-eastern Slovenia * Ruše, Žalec, a small settlement in east-cen ...
'', once owned by
CrossGen Cross Generation Entertainment or CrossGen was an American comic book publisher and entertainment company that operated from 1998 to 2004. The company's assets were acquired by The Walt Disney Company in 2004, and designated to Disney Publishing ...
and now by Marvel Comics. Examples in manga and anime include ''
Majin Tantei Nōgami Neuro ''Neuro: Supernatural Detective'', known in Japan as , is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yusei Matsui. The series follows Neuro Nōgami, a demon who depends on mysteries for sustenance. Having consumed all the mysteries i ...
'', ''
Mushishi is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yuki Urushibara. It was serialized in Kodansha's ''seinen'' manga magazine ''Afternoon Season Zōkan'' from 1999 to 2002, and in ''Monthly Afternoon'' from December 2002 to August 200 ...
'', ''
YuYu Hakusho is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yoshihiro Togashi. The series tells the story of Yusuke Urameshi, a teenage delinquent who is struck and killed by a car while attempting to save a child's life. After a number of ...
'', '' Ghost Hunt'', '' ''Mononoke'''', '' Death Note'', '' Ghosts at School'', '' Dream Hunter Rem'', '' Bakemonogatari'' and '' Nightwalker: The Midnight Detective''.


Video and computer games

* '' Alpha Polaris'' * ''Amnesia'' series ** '' Amnesia: The Dark Descent'' ** '' Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs'' * '' Asylum'' * '' The Adventures of Dog Mendonça & Pizzaboy'' * '' Barrow Hill'' series ** ''Barrow Hill: Curse of the Ancient Circle'' ** ''Barrow Hill: The Dark Path'' * '' Betrayer'' * ''The Black Mirror'' series ** '' The Black Mirror'' ** ''Black Mirror II: Reigning Evil'' ** ''Black Mirror III: Final Fear'' ** ''
Black Mirror ''Black Mirror'' is a British anthology television series created by Charlie Brooker. Individual episodes explore a diversity of genres, but most are set in near-future dystopias with science fiction technology—a type of speculative fictio ...
'' * ''
Blackwell Blackwell may refer to: Places ;Canada * Blackwell, Ontario ;United Kingdom * Blackwell, County Durham, England * Blackwell, Carlisle, Cumbria, England * Blackwell (historic house), South Lakeland, Cumbria, England * Blackwell, Bolsover, Alfr ...
'' series ** '' The Blackwell Legacy'' ** ''Blackwell Unbound'' ** ''The Blackwell Convergence'' ** ''The Blackwell Deception'' ** ''The Blackwell Epiphany'' * '' Call of Cthulhu'' * '' Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth'' * ''
Clive Barker's Undying ''Clive Barker's Undying'' is a horror first-person shooter video game developed by EA Los Angeles and published by EA Games. The game's story was written by acclaimed horror writer Clive Barker. He also provided the voice of Ambrose Covenant, a ...
'' * ''
Clock Tower Clock towers are a specific type of structure which house a turret clock and have one or more clock faces on the upper exterior walls. Many clock towers are freestanding structures but they can also adjoin or be located on top of another buildi ...
'' series ** '' Clock Tower (1995)'' ** '' Clock Tower (1996)'' ** '' Clock Tower II: The Struggle Within'' ** ''
Clock Tower 3 is a survival horror video game co-produced by Capcom and Sunsoft for the PlayStation 2. Released in 2002, it is the fourth installment in the ''Clock Tower'' series, and the first and only video game directed by Japanese film director Kinji ...
'' * ''Condemned'' series ** '' Condemned: Criminal Origins'' ** '' Condemned 2: Bloodshot'' * '' Cryostasis: Sleep of Reason'' * '' D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die'' * '' Daemonica'' * ''Dark Fall'' series ** '' Dark Fall: The Journal'' ** '' Dark Fall II: Lights Out'' ** '' Dark Fall: Lost Souls'' * ''Dark Seed'' series ** '' Dark Seed'' ** ''
Dark Seed II ''Dark Seed II'' is a psychological horror point-and-click adventure game developed and published by Cyberdreams and distributed by MGM Interactive in 1995, and is the sequel to the 1992 game '' Dark Seed''. It sees recurring protagonist Mike Da ...
'' * ''Darkness Within'' series ** '' Darkness Within: In Pursuit of Loath Nolder'' ** '' Darkness Within 2: The Dark Lineage'' * '' Dead Reefs'' * ''
Discworld_Noir ''Discworld Noir'' is a 1999 adventure game developed by Perfect Entertainment and published by GT Interactive. The game is set in Terry Pratchett's satirical ''Discworld'' universe, and follows its first and only private investigator as he is ...
'' * ''Dracula'' series ** '' Dracula: Resurrection'' ** '' Dracula 2: The Last Sanctuary'' ** '' Dracula 3: The Path of the Dragon'' ** '' Dracula 4: The Shadow of the Dragon'' ** '' Dracula 5: The Blood Legacy'' * ''Echo Night'' series ** ''
Echo Night ''Echo Night'' is a trilogy of Japanese adventure games developed by FromSoftware. The original '' Echo Night'' was first released in 1998 for the PlayStation. Two sequels were developed; '' Echo Night 2: The Lord of Nightmares'' for the PlaySta ...
'' ** '' Echo Night 2: The Lord of Nightmares'' ** '' Echo Night: Beyond'' * '' Gabriel Knight'' series ** '' Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers'' ** '' The Beast Within: A Gabriel Knight Mystery'' (also known as ''Gabriel Knight 2: The Beast Within'') ** '' Gabriel Knight 3: Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the Damned'' * '' Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective'' * '' Gray Dawn'' * ''The Lost Crown'' series ** '' The Lost Crown: A Ghost-Hunting Adventure'' ** '' The Last Crown: Midnight Horror'' ** '' The Last Crown: Blackenrock'' * '' Megaten'' series ** '' Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner'' ** '' Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers'' ** '' Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army'' ** '' Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon'' ** '' Soul Hackers 2'' * ''Memento Mori'' series ** '' Memento Mori'' ** '' Memento Mori 2'' * '' Murdered: Soul Suspect'' * '' Necronomicon: The Dawning of Darkness'' (also known as ''Necronomicon: The Gateway to Beyond'') * '' Nocturne'' * ''
Pathologic ''Pathologic'' ( rus, Мор. Утопия, Mor. Utopiya, ˈmor ʊˈtopʲɪjə, , More. Utopia – a pun on Thomas More's ''Utopia'' and the Russian word for "plague") is a 2005 role-playing and survival game developed by Russian studio Ice-P ...
'' * ''Penumbra'' series ** '' Penumbra: Overture'' ** '' Penumbra: Black Plague'' ** '' Penumbra: Requiem'' * ''Phantasmagoria'' ** ''
Phantasmagoria Phantasmagoria (, also fantasmagorie, fantasmagoria) was a form of horror theatre that (among other techniques) used one or more magic lanterns to project frightening images, such as skeletons, demons, and ghosts, onto walls, smoke, or semi- ...
'' ** '' Phantasmagoria: A Puzzle of Flesh'' (also known as ''Phantasmagoria 2'') * '' Return of the Obra Dinn'' * '' Rhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches'' * '' Sanitarium'' * '' Scratches'' * '' Shadow of Memories'' * '' Silverload'' * '' Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones'' * ''
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter ''The Vanishing of Ethan Carter'' is a 2014 horror adventure video game developed and published by The Astronauts for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. Gameplay ''The Vanishing of Ethan Carter'' is set in an open wo ...
'' * ''
The Wolf Among Us ''The Wolf Among Us'' is an episodic graphic mystery-drama adventure game developed by Telltale Games, based on Bill Willingham's ''Fables'' comic book series, to which it serves as a prequel. The game consists of five episodes that were rele ...
'' * '' The X-Files Game''


See also

* List of science fiction and fantasy detectives


References

{{film genres Fantasy tropes Low fantasy Fantasy genres