| 100% | NEROWOLFE | 9 | Fictional armchair detective created by Rex Stout who keeps his past murky: 2 wds. |
| 40% | HERCULEPOIROT | 13 | Fictional Belgian detective created by Agatha Christie who is also one of the most famous and long-running characters: 2 wds. |
| 37% | NERO | 4 | Fictional detective Wolfe created by Rex Stout |
| 37% | NEROWOLFE | 9 | Rex Stout's fictional detective: 2 wds. |
| 37% | JANEMARPLE | 10 | Fictional detective created by Agatha Christie: 2 wds. |
| 37% | PHILIPMARLOWE | 13 | Fictional detective created by Raymond Chandler: 2 wds. |
| 37% | MIKEHAMMER | 10 | Fictional detective created by Mickey Spillane: 2 wds. |
| 37% | LINCOLNRHYME | 12 | Fictional quadriplegic detective created by 32-Across who is played by Russell Hornsby in a new NBC crime drama series (2 wds.) |
| 36% | SHERLOCKHOLMES | 14 | Fictional detective created by Arthur Conan Doyle: 2 wds. |
| 36% | NERO | 4 | Detective Wolfe who was created by Rex Stout |
| 35% | PETERDECKER | 11 | Fictional LAPD lieutenant created by 30-Across who meets his wife, 40-Across, in the novel "The Ritual Bath" (2 wds.) |
| 32% | NEROWOLFE | 9 | Fictional sleuth created by Rex Stout |
| 32% | SHERLOCKHOLMES | 14 | Detective portrayed by Robert Downey Jr., who is known for his unmatched observation and deductive skills: 2 wds. |
| 32% | HERCULEPOIROT | 13 | Belgian detective created by 35-Across: 2 wds. |
| 32% | NERO | 4 | ___ Wolfe (detective created by Rex Stout) |
| 32% | JESSESTONE | 10 | Fictional detective created by novelist 33-Across and played by actor 43-Across (2 wds.) |
| 30% | NEROWOLFE | 9 | Rex Stout detective played by Maury Chaykin, William Conrad, and Thayer David (2 wds.) |
| 29% | BENJAMINBUNNY | 13 | Character created by 48-Across who helps 30-Across retrieve his clothes from Mr. McGregor's garden (2 wds.) |
| 29% | NANCYDREW | 9 | Fictional amateur detective created as the female counterpart to the series in 13a: 2 wds. |
| 28% | ACEVENTURA | 10 | Detective portrayed by Jim Carrey, who specializes in retrieval of missing animals: 2 wds. |
| 26% | AGATHACHRISTIE | 14 | British novelist who created the fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple (2 wds.) |
| 25% | PETERRABBIT | 11 | Character created by 48-Across who often raids Mr. McGregor's garden (2 wds.) |
| 25% | FERDELANCE | 10 | 1934 book by Rex Stout; first Nero Wolfe detective novel |
| 25% | NERO | 4 | ___ Wolfe, Rex Stout's armchair detective |
| 25% | FERDELANCE | 10 | 1934 book by Rex Stout; the first Nero Wolfe detective novel |
| 25% | FERDELANCE | 10 | 1934 detective novel by Rex Stout featuring Nero Wolfe |
| 25% | LEONARDNIMOY | 12 | Actor who meets his younger self, played by Zachary Quinto, in the 2009 film "Star Trek": 2 wds. |
| 25% | BRUCEWILLIS | 11 | Actor who meets his younger self, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, in the 2012 film "Looper": 2 wds. |
| 24% | JAMESBOND | 9 | Spy created by Ian Fleming: 2 wds. |
| 24% | ROBERTOLUONGO | 13 | NHL goalie who had his number 1 retired by the Florida Panthers in 2020: 2 wds. |