Barbara Havers
Elizabeth George's INSPECTOR LYNLEY series
In many ways, Barbara Havers is the antithesis of what a book's hero(ine) should be like. Dumpy, almost slovenly, in appearance, abrasive in manner, and with a near-complete disregard for authority. Throw in a sad domestic situation, and she seems more cut out for committing crime that solving it!
Havers is a detective sergeant with New Scotland Yard in London when the series starts. Having returned after serving a punishment stint in uniform, she is assigned to DI Thomas Lynley—who also happens to be an earl—and given a last chance to prove herself.
DS Havers is in her early 30s in the beginning—and Lynley a couple of years older. Her dress sense is awful—I am being kind here—she wears red trainers and has a t-shirt that says, "The truth isn't out there, it's in here", and she cuts her hair in the shower. She is rude and abrasive, and smokes like a chimney. Doesn't sound very likeable, does she?
Lynley and Havers make a truly unlikely pair. Havers' awkwardness, scruffiness, gruffness and well-publicized dislike for 'toffs' contrast strikingly with Lynley's aristocratic looks, his ever-so-blond head coupled with oddly dark brown eyes, his brutal honesty (with himself; his morals are a bit more mixed up when he gets all, as Havers calls it, 'toffs in town for the season' regarding his peerage and background), and compassionate heart.
Even though on the face of it Lynley seems a more likeable character, it is surprisingly easy to like Havers instead. (Why? Read the books to find out, even though George might have just killed off the series.) Mouthing off her superiors gives her a slight disadvantage in career advancement, but Havers is a really good investigator and has saved Lynley's aristocratic behind many a time.
While no one—not even Lynley and Havers—expected their partnership to work, it makes its way through grudging respect up to a rather endearing friendship. Though I would prefer it if Havers started calling him Tommy instead of 'Inspector' or 'sir' (generally), 'your lordship' or 'bloody toff' (when being sarcastic or mildly angry), or 'Lynley' (when very angry). She has called him Tommy a grand total of once—I've been counting!
Back to why I put Havers on top of my favourite fictional characters' list. The truth is, it is just so hard not to like her! I don't know anyone who has read the series to like Lynley more than Havers. I guess that's because Havers is so ordinary, so flawed, that we all find a little bit of ourselves in her.