What is an Occult Detective?

 

OCCULT DETECTIVES WALK AMONG US

When most people imagine an Occult Detective, they think in terms of fiction, in which a story is told, regardless of medium, that combines the tropes of traditional detective stories with those found in supernatural horror. Occult Detectives, however, are more than just fictional characters.

Occult Detectives are investigators who immerse themselves in all things strange and unusual. More than just “ghost hunters”, occult detectives are well versed in all manner of occult and magical traditions; in the beliefs, denominations, cults, and sects of traditional and fringe religions; in folk and shamanic practices; in conspiracy theories of all stripes; in ancient aliens, alien abductions, ufology, cryptozoology, altered states of consciousness, ancient history and archaeology, cryptoanthropology, psychic phenomena, and other Fortean matters; in climate change and geopolitics; in secret societies and political structures. And more… so much more.

Occult detectives have a diverse skill set that ranges from the scientific to the fantastic and all points in between.

Both words in their description have equal weight.

oc·​cult | \ ə-ˈkəlt, ä- \ not revealed; not easily apprehended or understood; hidden from view; of or relating to the occult (astrology, palmistry, card reading, etc); not manifest or detectable by clinical methods alone; matters regarded as involving the action or influence of supernatural or supernormal powers or some secret knowledge of them —used with the.

de·​tec·​tive | \ di-ˈtek-tiv \ fitted for or used in detecting something; of or relating to detectives or their work; one employed or engaged in detecting lawbreakers or in getting information that is not readily or publicly accessible

Occult detectives are problem solvers. It’s just that the problems they encounter tend to be of the exceptional kind.

OCCULT DETECTIVES IN FICTION

As stated earlier, an occult detective story is one in which the tropes of the traditional detective story are combined with those found in supernatural horror fiction. The sub-genre got its kick-start as early as 1840, in Henry William Herbert’s short story “The Haunted Homestead”, according to the pain-staking research of Tim Prasil. Since then the genre has become a staple of literature, movies, television, and comics.

From Algernon Blackwood’s John Silence to Manly Wade Wellman’s John Thunstone to Alan Moore & Company’s John Constantine, the Occult Detective as a storytelling device has stood the test of time, proving that when it’s done right there is an audience hungry for a paranormal mystery. One need merely take a cursory glance at the current “Urban Fantasy” and “Paranormal Romance” markets to see that the Occult Detective is alive and well in the 21st Century, if not somewhat tempted by modern sensibilities.

What follows are lists of my personal favorite contributions to the genre. Your own opinion might vary, but if you’re looking to take a peek into the dark and sinister worlds that Occult Detectives feel right at home in, these are as good a place to start as any.

TOP TEN FAVORITE OCCULT DETECTIVES IN LITERATURE

10. Steve Harrison (Robert E. Howard)
Hard-boiled PI Steve Harrison is the prototypical private eye, of the sort that guys like Spillane would churn out later, and Howard brings this square jawed tough to life as few others can. But what really makes these stories sing is that underlying supernatural threat that makes them solid occult detective tales, and the frightening figure of Erlik Khan, one of the great pulp villains.

9. Holly Gibney (Stephen King)
Holly, a private investigator trained by the late Bill Hodges, suffers from OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), synesthesia, sensory processing disorder, and she’s somewhere on the autism spectrum. Despite this, she’s very observant, refreshingly unfiltered, and unaware of her innocence.

8. Thomas Carnacki (William Hope Hodgson / William Meikle)
Thomas Carnacki is a ghost finder, an Edwardian psychic detective, who investigates a wide range of terrifying hauntings armed with a camera, his Electric Pentacle, and various ancient tomes on magic,

7. John Silence (Algernon Blackwood)
“Rich by accident and a doctor by choice, John Silence took only those cases which interested him.” Luckily for us, his interests were of a supernatural nature.

6. Simon Iff (Aleister Crowley)
Based on an idealized version of the author, Iff possessed a keen insight into human psychology, and was a brilliant magician, mystic, and detective.

5. John Kirowan and John Conrad (Robert E. Howard)
Professor John Kirowan, a reluctant hero, once traveled the world seeking greater knowledge of the occult but became sickened by what he learned and renounced this knowledge, but was later drug back into that world by cthonic forces. His ofttimes companion, John Conrad, is a dedicated occult aspirant, hunting for lost lore and engaging in magical folly as Kirowan himself once had.

4. Duke De Richleau (Dennis Wheatley)
A globetrotting adventurer and occultist, the Duke appeared in 11 novels including the Devil Rides Out (which featured another Crowley-inspired villain, Damien Mocata), Strange Conflict, and Gateway to Hell.

3. John Thunstone (Manly Wade Wellman)
A scholar and playboy who battles the forces of evil armed with a silver cane-sword inscribed with the words “Sic pereant omnes inimici tui”, Thunstone is a classic man-of-action, and his primary antagonist, the Crowley-inspired sorcerer Rowley Thorne, is the quintessential pulp villain.

2. Sir Adam Sinclair (Katherine Kurtz & Deborah Turner Harris)
Master Huntsman, scholar, nobleman, physician, and detective, Sinclair prowls the  ‘Dark Roads where the black magicians travel’ in order to protect the world from their devilishness.

1. John Constantine (Alan Moore, Jamie Delano, etc)
Constantine’s a real piece of work. As much a con man as a conjurer, John’s cynical, smart ass personality ruffles angel feathers and demon wings alike.

So, book recommendations? Here are a few instant classic occult detective stories written this century:

The Amulet by William Meikle, The White Chapel Demon by Josh Reynolds, Black Magic Woman by Justin Gustanis, Hitmen by Greg Mitchell, Personal Demons by Gregory Lamberson, Help for the Haunted by Tim Prasil, Ghost Walk by Brian Keene, Love is the Law by Nick Mamatas… or, you could always check out Landon Connors: Occult Detective Vol 1 by some guy that runs this occult detective website you might have heard of.

TOP 5 FAVORITE FAILED OCCULT DETECTIVE TV PILOTS

5. Baffled!
TV Movie/Pilot (1973) Directed by Phillip Leacock, Starring Leonard Nimoy as Tom Kovack & Susan Hampshire as Michelle Brent

Race car driver Tom Kovack suddenly begins to experience psychic visions. He meets Michelle Brent, an expert on the paranormal, and the two form an unlikely partnership. Kovack’s visions draw them into an occult-themed mystery at a remote inn on the English coast.

4. Dark Intruder
TV Movie/Pilot (1965) Directed by Harvey Hart, Starring Leslie Nielsen

Brett Kingsford, a playboy sleuth and occult expert, becomes embroiled in the mysterious murders of several women in San Francisco.

3. The Norliss Tapes
TV Movie/Pilot (1973) Directed by Dan Curtis, Starring Roy Thinnes as David Norliss & Angie Dickinson as Ellen Sterns Cort

A reporter, researching a book debunking the occult and paranormal phenomena, goes missing after stumbling upon a group of modern-day vampires. The only clues left behind are a series of audio tapes from his investigation.

2. 17th Precinct
Unaired TV Pilot (2011) Created by Ronald Moore, Starring Jaimie Bamber, James Callis, & Tricia Helfer

The series takes place in the American city of Excelsior in a world where science was never “invented” and mankind relies on magic to run society. The police of Excelsior’s 17th Precinct use spells to collect evidence and information.

1. Spectre
TV Movie/Pilot (1977) Directed by Clive Donner, Starring Robert Culp as William Sebastian & Gig Young as Dr. Amos Hamilton

A criminologist and his physician are hired to to investigate a prominent business man when his sister begins to suspect that his fortunes are being made through the use of black magic.

TOP TEN FAVORITE OCCULT DETECTIVE MOVIES

10. In the Mouth of Madness
(1995) Directed by John Carpenter, Starring Sam Neill as John Trent & Jürgen Prochnow as Sutter Cane

An insurance investigator is tasked with looking into the disappearance of a best selling horror novelist.

9. Cast A Deadly Spell
(1991) Directed by Martin Campbell, Starring Fred Ward as Harry Lovecraft & David Warner as Amos Hackshaw

A hard-boiled detective, named Harry Philip Lovecraft, investigates the theft of a mystical tome in a world where magic is real and everybody uses it… except for Harry.

8. Sleepy Hollow
(1999) Directed by Tim Burton, Starring Johnny Depp as Ichabod Crane & Christopher Walken as the Headless Horseman

Ichabod Crane is sent to Sleepy Hollow to investigate the decapitations of three people, with the culprit being the legendary apparition, The Headless Horseman.

7. Night of the Demon
(1957) Directed by Jacques Tourneur, Starring Dana Andrews as Dr. John Holden & Niall MacGinnis as Dr. Julian Karswell

Adapted from M.R. James’ classic Casting the Runes, the story follows an American psychologist as he investigates a murderous satanic cult.

6. Fallen
(1998) Directed by Gregory Hoblit, Starring Denzel Washington as Detective John Hobbes & John Goodman as Detective Jones

A Philadelphia police detective investigates occult murders committed by an apparent copycat killer.

5. The Night Stalker
TV Movie/Pilot (1972) Directed by John Llewellyn Moxy, Starring Darrin McGavin as Carl Kolchak &
Barry Atwater as Janos Skorzeny

An investigative reporter stumbles onto the story of a lifetime — vampires are real and one is stalking the streets of Las Vegas. Trouble is… no one believes him.

4. The Ninth Gate
(1999) Directed by Roman Polanski, Starring Johnny Depp as Dean Corso & Frank Langella as Boris Balkan

A rare book dealer is hired to search for an authentic ancient tome that purportedly contains the secret to magically summoning the devil. Three are known to exist, and he must authenticate which is real and which are forgeries, procuring the original for his employer.

3. The Exorcist
(1973) Directed by William Friedkin, Starring Linda Blair as Regan, Max Von Sydow as Father Merrin, & Jason Miller as Father Damian Karras

When a teenage girl is possessed by a mysterious entity, her mother seeks the help of two priests to save her daughter.

2. The Devil Rides Out
(1968) Directed by Terence Fisher, Starring Christopher Lee as Duc de Richleau & Charles Gray as Mocata

Christopher Lee’s favourite of his films, in which he plays a French/Russian aristocrat who must rescue a close friend’s son from a devil-worshiping cult.

1. Angel Heart
(1987) Directed by Alan Parker., Starring Mickey Roarke as Harry Angel & Robert DeNiro as Louis Cyphre

A hard-boiled detective is hired to find a crooner who is believed to have faked his death and disappeared after World War II.

TOP TEN FAVORITE OCCULT DETECTIVE TELEVISION SERIES

10.The Sixth Sense
Dr. Michael Rhodes, a professor of parapsychology, with his assistant Nancy Murphy, attempts to solve supernatural crimes and mysteries.

9. Kolchak: The Night Stalker

Carl Kolchak is a reporter for a Chicago newspaper. Through more accident than design he ends up investigating homicides, many of which involve supernatural forces. Ultimately, rather than reporting on the crimes, he solves them.

8. Angel
The vampire Angel, cursed with a soul, moves to Los Angeles and aids people with supernatural-related problems while questing for his own redemption.

7. Lucifer
Lucifer, bored and unhappy as the Lord of Hell, resigns his throne and abandons his kingdom for LA. Now a hedonistic club owner, he finds himself drawn into working with the LAPD, solving murders alongside a mysterious female partner.

6. True Detective
The lives of two detectives, Rust Cohle and Martin Hart, become entangled during a 17-year hunt for a serial killer in Louisiana.

5. The X-Files / Millennium
Two FBI agents, Fox Mulder the believer and Dana Scully the skeptic, investigate the strange and unexplained while hidden forces work to impede their efforts. / A former FBI profiler with the ability to look inside the mind of a killer, Frank Black, begins working for the mysterious Millennium Group.

4.  Supernatural
Two brothers follow their father’s footsteps as “hunters” fighting evil supernatural beings of many kinds including monsters, demons, and gods that roam the earth.

3. The Dresden Files
A Chicago-based wizard works as a private investigator.

2. Constantine
A working class magician and conman seeks redemption while confronting “the coming darkness”.

1. Twin Peaks
An idiosyncratic FBI Agent investigates the murder of a young woman in the even more idiosyncratic town of Twin Peaks.

TOP TEN PARANORMAL REALITY SERIES

Honorable Mention. The Lowe Files
The series follows Rob Lowe and his two sons as they investigate unsolved legends and eerie age-old stories on a bonding family adventure years in the making.

10. Paranormal State
The program followed the Pennsylvania State University Paranormal Research Society, a student-led college club as they investigated various hauntings. The show introduced us to Ryan Buell, Katrina Weidman, Michelle Belanger, Eilfie Music, Heather Taddy, and Chip Coffey. The show also included Lorraine Warren on occasion.

9. Paranormal Lockdown
Ghost Adventures alum Nick Groff and Katrina Weidman investigate the paranormal by locking themselves inside the locations for 72 hours.

8. Ghost Lab
Brad and Barry Klinge lead Everyday Paranormal as they visit the most haunted places in America to uncover evidence and test new theories to probe the existence of the afterlife using fringe-science.

7. Haunted Highway
Two teams of paranormal investigators (Jack Osbourne & Dana Workman / Jael de Pardo & Devin Marble) out on the road…alone. No camera crew. No backup. Searching for things…that don’t want to be found.

6. Ghost Stalkers
The series follows two paranormal investigators, John E.L. Tenney and actor Chad Lindberg, who each went through a near-death experience. During their investigations, they experiment with trying to find naturally occurring gateways or wormholes which may connect our reality with alternate realities or differing dimensions.

5. Destination Truth
The program follows paranormal researcher Josh Gates and his team (including Erin Ryder and Jael de Pardo) around the world to investigate claims of the supernatural, mainly in the field of cryptozoology.

4. Kindred Spirits
Ghost Hunters alums Amy Bruni Adam Berry, along with medium Chip Coffey (and sometimes assisted by Greg & Dana Newkirk) visit people who believe their homes are haunted. They attempt to contact the spirits and obtain evidence of a paranormal presence.

3. Portals to Hell
Jack Osbourne and Katrina Weidman (and later Heather Taddy) lead investigations looking for paranormal hot spots with a sinister as they try to uncover spiritual gateways to the spirit world with the help of Michelle Belanger.

2. Hellier
Hellier follows a team of paranormal investigators led by Greg and Dana Newkirk as they stumble down the rabbit hole while searching for goblins in Kentucky.

1. In Search Of…
In the late 70s, Leonard Nimoy hosted the definitive show about the strange and unusual, covering Ghosts, UFOs, Bigfoot, Past Lives, Witchcraft, and a whole host of other fascinating subjects.