Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot Sherlock Holmes vs Hercule Poirot Still remains as topic...

I have only read Dead Man's Folly. So I don't have much basis for Hercule Poirot. But I was left with the impression that he investigates to investigate. I didn't get much sense that he investigates to save. Because well, spoiler, the dead body was already cemented. But maybe he is better in other books. I am yet to know. But right now, the impression I have of his character as a detective that is passive.

I am a Sherlockian. I love the books by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I love BBC Sherlock. I love Enola Homes. I also love how SH is portrayed in Detective Conan.
Overall, SH for me is more of an active kinda detective.

So yeah, SH for the win haha. :)

bijouxbroussard · F

I like both characters, but I also have favorite actors portraying them. My favorite Sherlock Holmes was Jeremy Brett, and my favorite Hercule Poirot is David Suchet.

Thevy29 · 41-45, M

Poirot has the advantage of everybody being trapped in the one location when a murder happens; ie a train or boat etc. So all he needs is eye witnesses. Yet strangely for someone who is so well known and for people to drop dead around him. No one changes travel plans when his around... Personally if I saw him board my train I'd jump out the nearest window to save myself.

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bookerdana · M

Father Brown

DocSavage · M

I always found the main difference between the two to be in the motives. Sherlock is always of course logic deductions. Poirot seems to understand the desire behind the crime more. He always looks at the most likely motive, and then the fact that support it.

DrWatson · 70-79, M

I enjoy both, but Doyle's stories have a deeper appeal to me than Christie's.

I have reread many Sherlock Holmes stories and enjoyed them every time. I have never felt the urge to do that with the Poirot stories once I know the solution to the mystery.

Picklebobble2 · 56-60, M

Both have their merits in the original written stories but both have character flaws by virtue of what they do.

It never sits well with me just how they can afford to do what they do without demonstrating how they earn a living.

At least that aspect is covered in Poirot's last story which sees an impoverished old man confessing to Hastings (whom he hadn't seen in years) how he discovered a serial killer and killed him.

Holmes suffers from being that typical thing of being perceived an Edwardian gentleman..... but I don't recall whether he actually was or whether it was just a perception.

And as for their assistants.....ever known a Doctor so dim or an army Captain likewise ?

JustNik · 51-55, F

Oh goodness. That’s like picking a favorite child. 😂 To me, Hercule is lighter, bears the suffering of his past and intellect a bit more gracefully so I can focus more on the stories and just enjoy him. Sherlock stirs my compassion as well as my delight which allows Watson to achieve his goal of using the stories as illustrations.

SW-User

I only watched a few episodes of the Poirot series, and that was many years ago; I've forgotten what I thought of them. My vote goes to Mr. Holmes, as I have great childhood memories of reading all of Conan Doyle, plus watching the classic Basil Rathbone series of movies about the detective.