| 100% | NEROWOLFE | 9 | Rex Stout's fictional detective: 2 wds. |
| 67% | NEROWOLFE | 9 | Fictional armchair detective created by Rex Stout who keeps his past murky: 2 wds. |
| 57% | NEROWOLFE | 9 | Rex Stout detective played by Maury Chaykin, William Conrad, and Thayer David (2 wds.) |
| 56% | NERO | 4 | Fictional detective Wolfe created by Rex Stout |
| 55% | JANEMARPLE | 10 | Fictional detective created by Agatha Christie: 2 wds. |
| 55% | PHILIPMARLOWE | 13 | Fictional detective created by Raymond Chandler: 2 wds. |
| 55% | MIKEHAMMER | 10 | Fictional detective created by Mickey Spillane: 2 wds. |
| 54% | SHERLOCKHOLMES | 14 | Fictional detective created by Arthur Conan Doyle: 2 wds. |
| 53% | NEROWOLFE | 9 | Rex Stout's detective |
| 48% | NERO | 4 | Rex's stout detective |
| 45% | JAKEPERALTA | 11 | Fictional detective played by 20-Across in 15-Across/41-Across (2 wds.) |
| 44% | NERO | 4 | ___ Wolfe, Rex Stout's armchair detective |
| 43% | JESSESTONE | 10 | Fictional detective created by novelist 33-Across and played by actor 43-Across (2 wds.) |
| 42% | AGATHACHRISTIE | 14 | British novelist who created the fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple (2 wds.) |
| 40% | NERO | 4 | Rex Stout's Wolfe |
| 39% | NEROWOOF | 8 | Rex Stout's canine sleuth? |
| 39% | FERDELANCE | 10 | 1934 book by Rex Stout; first Nero Wolfe detective novel |
| 38% | NERO | 4 | Rex Stout's stout sleuth Wolfe |
| 38% | FERDELANCE | 10 | 1934 book by Rex Stout; the first Nero Wolfe detective novel |
| 36% | SHERLOCK | 8 | Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's fictional detective |
| 36% | SCUDDER | 7 | Matthew, the Lawrence Block's fictional detective |
| 35% | NEROWOLFE | 9 | Fictional sleuth created by Rex Stout |
| 35% | AMI | 3 | "Hmmm, what ___ missing?" (detective's musing, maybe): 2 wds. |
| 35% | IDO | 3 | Bachelor's last words: 2 wds |
| 35% | DOIT | 4 | "Just ___": 2 wds. (Nike's slogan) |
| 34% | WENDYDARLING | 12 | Fictional traveler to Neverland: 2 wds. |
| 34% | ITON | 4 | "Bring ___!": 2 wds. ("Let's do this!") |
| 34% | BEA | 3 | "___ good boy": 2 wds. (parent's instruction) |
| 34% | DRAGRACE | 8 | "RuPaul's ___": 2 wds. |
| 33% | FRODOBAGGINS | 12 | Fictional traveler to Mount Doom: 2 wds. |