Columbo may not have been literary, but he is the one who made me even jump.
One moment he was absently asking what seemed to be non-important questions.Then he would come in for one, that would open up 'Pandora's Box' in his mind.
He had a steal quality, that before the criminal even could take a breath...
BAM!!! he had them, in his appearance was part of his eccentric nature.
Could he have been played in the written word, maybe not.
It was something to just watch, not been one like him since.
Such a underdog...always getting his bone.His most famous line that was part of his trap!'' Just one more thing'' .....he would say.