1. Which of these Agatha Christie creations enjoyed a stable, long term, happy, romantic life? Tommy Beresford Hercule Poirot Jane Marple Ariadne Oliver

2. Dorothy L. Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey met, pursued, and won his lady love over the course of several books. What was her name? Answer: (First and last (maiden) name, or first name only)

3. In "The Thin Man" by Dashiell Hammett, Nick Charles solves the mystery, while his wife provides bright conversation and an endless supply of cocktails. What is her name? Pamela Harriet Molly Nora

4. Roderick Alleyn is the hero of Ngaio Marsh's detective stories. He's somewhat unusual for a fictional police officer of the time; he is cultured, educated, and interested in the arts. Whom does he marry, during the course of the series? Margery Athens Agatha Troy Dorothy Rome Josephine Carthage

5. Everybody's favourite girl detective, Nancy Drew, has a steady boyfriend (for more than 75 years now!). What is his name? Tom Thompson Frank Hardy Biff Billingsley Ned Nickerson

6. Ed McBain's "87th Precinct" books follow the fortunes of a group of cops in the fictional city of Isola. Steve Carella, who is most often the central character of the books, got married in the first book of the series, "Cop Hater" in 1956. What is his wife's name? Teddy Carla Sarah Angela

7. Robert B Parker's weight-lifting, gourmet-cooking, Hemingway-quoting detective Spenser has had a steady honey since he met her in 1974's "God Save the Child". Who is she? Brigid O'Shaughnessy Vivian Rutledge Dorothy Wynant Susan Silverman

8. Peter Decker meets a woman in Faye Kellerman's first series novel, "The Ritual Bath" who eventually becomes his wife, though there are cultural barriers to be crossed. What is her name? Precious Ramotswe Nancy Kwan Aouda Chaudry Rina Lazarus

9. We first met Susan Isaacs' Judith Singer in "Compromising Positions" (1978). In that book she is a Long Island housewife and stay-at-home mom, who gets involved in a murder mystery (mostly out of boredom), and solves the case. She and the police detective, who have been striking sparks off of each other all through the book, end up in an affair. In "Long Time No See", which came out in 2002, Judith is back, and so is her detective! What is his name? Nelson Sharpe Alan Banks Alan Grant Milo Sturgis

10. Well, I won't try to kid you - Sherlock Holmes doesn't really belong in this quiz. Love and romance were definitely NOT his forte. However, he does have one encounter with a woman that strikes a spark. As Watson tells us, "to Sherlock Holmes, she is always "the" woman." And he does ask for her photograph, as a reward from a grateful King. Who is she? Mary Sutherland Nancy Devoy Mrs. Oakshott Irene Adler