M. Lecoq is often cited as the first true detective figure in French literature. He appears in the novel, "L'affaire Lerouge," or "The Widow Lerouge," published in 1866. Created by author Emile Gaboriau, Lecoq's character was inspired in part by the real-life exploits of Francois Vidocq, a former thief who wound up heading the French police unit Sûreté. Lecoq and the novels he appeared in exuded realism and honesty in their portrayal of gritty Parisian culture.
This detective, created by Georges Simenon, came about in the 1930s and was acclaimed for his fascination with the nuances of human nature. Maigret's trademark is his preference in knowing the psychological reasoning for crime over the fact of the crime itself. Simenon, of Belgian origin, likely benefited from his external perspective on metropolitan French culture. He also put a great deal of emphasis and detail into the atmosphere and mood that highlighted his prose.
Leo Malet's modern detective character, named Nestor Burma, may seem reminiscent of work by authors such as Chandler and Hammett. But Burma's intriguing past distinguishes him from similar detective personages. He was involved in radical politics and social anarchy in the era of World War II before opening his private agency in Paris. Nazis and the Vichy regime are constant threats of danger to him. The character's popularity generated a stream of 30 novels and several films.
Detective Lupin was realized by author Maurice Leblanc at the turn of the 20th century. Leblanc was hoping that Lupin would read as the French parallel to Sherlock Holmes of British literary lore. Lupin's personality transfixed readers in that he was at once a detective and a serious criminal. As with several other modern detectives, Lupin's technique of investigation rests on his aptitude for psychological detail. In French literary circles, Lupin is considered to be the "enfant terrible" against Maigret's benevolent figure.