The best investigator of the Irkutsk region can talk to anyone. When principles are shaken

If not for these people, nothing would have stopped the criminal world. Bestsellers are written about the adventures of famous detectives; millions of people admire their intelligence, courage and cunning. After all, to catch a smart criminal you need to be one step above him. The names of Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Mrs. Marple are known to any fan of detective stories, and just to the average reader.

Only these characters are all fictional. But this does not mean that there are no great detectives in nature. They just aren’t written about so often, but that doesn’t make their lives any less dangerous or exciting. And the vivid biography of some detectives served as a reason for the creation of literary heroes.

Eugene Francois Vidocq (1775-1857). This man managed to visit both sides of the war between crime and the law. Vidocq was born in Arras, France, into the family of a baker. At the age of 14, the teenager committed his first crime - he accidentally killed a fencing teacher. As a result, Vitok decided to flee his hometown in America. But the trip did not take place - Eugene ended up in the army, where he turned out to be a very bad soldier. Vidocq participated in numerous duels, was punished, and eventually deserted. Eugene spent his youth in criminal gangs, where he constantly robbed and killed. For his numerous escapes from prison, he was nicknamed the “werewolf” and the “king of risk.” As a result, his former criminal friends made life so difficult for the Frenchman that he decided to take an unusual step - Vidocq offered his services to the prefecture of Paris. In 1811, he created a special brigade, which consisted of former criminals. Vidocq believed that only a criminal could understand and catch criminals. There were bad rumors about a group called Security. Vidocq remained at the head of his brigade for 20 years, after which he retired. In 1833 he opened his own investigation bureau, the "private police". Thus, it was Vidocq who became one of the first professional detectives. The pinnacle of his career was the position of head of the office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Lamartine government. Vidocq is considered the father of the world private investigation and detective work; he is revered as the founder of the criminal investigation. The detective served as a prototype for several literary and cinematic characters. It was Vidocq who began to use ballistic examination. One day, during the investigation, he decided to examine the size of the bullet, proving that it could not have been fired from the accused’s weapon.

Alan Pinkerton (1819-1884). Pinkerton was born in Glasgow, Scotland. In 1842, he emigrated to America, where he established himself as a detective. In 1846, young Pinkerton was elected sheriff of his town. After only 4 years, he left government service and founded his own detective agency. The services of this office were in demand, because it specialized in railway thefts. The agency’s famous motto is “We never sleep.” Among the main successes of this organization are the prevention of the assassination attempt on President Lincoln in Baltimore in 1861, as well as the arrest of the organizers of the theft of 700 thousand dollars from the Adams Express railway company. For the first time, the Pinkerton Agency put into circulation photographs of criminals and their detailed descriptions. Such portraits were sent throughout major cities of the country, which significantly speeded up the capture of the bandits. It is believed that Pinkerton founded and his sons developed the classification of criminals. The detective kept a card index of known swindlers indicating their specialization. The famous detective died in 1884, the cause was gangrene that developed due to accidentally biting his tongue. The detective himself became the prototype for the literary character Nat Pinkerton, known as the “King of Detectives.” The Pinkerton Agency still exists today, owned by the Swedish company Securitas AB.

Duane Chapman (born 1953). This detective is atypical, however, he knows his business. The activities of the American bounty hunter Chapman are constantly covered on television. Nicknamed "Dog" for his hunting passion, Chapman is a regular talk show star. And in this case, the detective was a former criminal. At the age of 24, Dwayne was convicted of armed robbery. He himself denies his participation in the crime, but nevertheless spent a year and a half behind bars. Chapman's family detective business involves his sons and relatives. The activities of these detectives are characterized by their unforgiving approach to criminals; they strive to catch fugitives alive or dead. As a result, the law constantly has claims against the famous Bounty Hunter. Chapman himself is distinguished by fearlessness; he has more than once confronted dangerous criminals, kidnappers, rapists, and drug dealers. The detective's personality is constantly visible - either he is arrested for illegal actions, or he displays racial prejudice.

Stepan Sheshkovsky (1727-1794). From a young age, Stepan learned to read and write. As a minor, he began to serve in the Siberian Prikaz, and in 1740 he was sent on a business trip to the Secret Chancellery. Sheshkovsky liked it there, he managed to transfer to the state office of investigative affairs. The young, capable employee was noticed by Count Shuvalov, which served as the basis for a quick career. At the age of 30, Sheshkovsky, on the recommendation of his guardian, was appointed secretary of the Secret Chancellery by the Empress Elizabeth herself. The dissolution of this organization did not destroy the detective's career. The new empress, Catherine, needed people like this. Sheshkovsky was entrusted with the most important investigative cases. It was Stepan who interrogated Pugachev, recording his testimony in detail. Sheshkovsky, on duty, investigated not only political affairs, but also personal imperial ones. The detective went down in history as a tough and principled policeman; he managed to develop his own interrogation technique. The common people were afraid of him, and the nobles were afraid. The detective himself did not hesitate to use torture in interrogations, although he himself was often caught and beaten by brave daredevil avengers.

Arkady Koshko (1867-1928). Koshko was born in Minsk, into a wealthy family. He chose a military career, but service weighed heavily on him. After all, even as a child, Arkady read detective novels. As a result, he realized that his calling was criminology and resigned. Koshko began his police service in Riga as a simple inspector. The use of the most advanced European techniques, as well as the detective’s personal courage, led to rapid promotion and awards. Within 6 years, Koshko headed the Riga police, and in 1908 he already became the chief of the Moscow police. The detective managed to develop a new identification system based on the collection and classification of anthropometric and fingerprint data. This allowed the Moscow detective to collect a large file of criminals. This system was even borrowed by Scotland Yard. The period of service in Moscow brought Koshko real fame; he was appointed head of the entire criminal investigation department in the country. In 1913, at a seminar in Switzerland, the Russian detective police were recognized as the best in the world in solving crimes. After the 1917 revolution, General Koshko emigrated to France. There he was unable to use his talents while working in a store. Koshko was repeatedly invited to serve in Scotland Yard, but for this it was necessary to accept British citizenship.

Ivan Osipov (1718-1756). The man nicknamed Vanka-Cain managed to become not only a legendary detective, but also an equally legendary robber. He was born into a peasant family in the Yaroslavl province. Ivan managed to rob his master, and then inform on him. As a reward for this, he received freedom. Osipov's new home became a den of thieves. After a series of high-profile adventures in Moscow, the robber went to the Volga, where he joined the gang of Ataman Zori. In 1741, Vanka-Cain unexpectedly came to the Moscow detective order, offering his services to capture other thieves and robbers. So Osipov was accepted into the civil service and was given a military command at his disposal. Only by catching and extraditing petty thieves, Vanka-Cain played his own game - he extorted money, opened a gambling house, covered up large bandits, and even openly robbed. The atrocities committed in Moscow brought investigative commissions there. Osipov’s activities gradually became clear, and in the detective order itself the entire personnel was replaced. The two-faced detective was sentenced to death, which was later commuted to Siberian hard labor.

Osip Shor (1891-1978). The activities of this man laid the foundation for the most famous literary character. True, Ostap Bender was not a detective, but you cannot deny him cunning, resourcefulness, and perseverance in achieving a goal. Ostap Benyaminovich Shor was born in Nikopol, but spent his childhood in Odessa. His studies in St. Petersburg were interrupted by the revolution. Trying to return to Odessa, Osip on the way home introduced himself as either a grandmaster, or a groom, or a representative of an underground organization. And he even spent one winter as the groom of a fat aunt. In Odessa, Shor began working in the criminal investigation department, in particular, fighting with Mishka Yaponchik's gang. The detective did not spare the bandits, but mercilessly destroyed those who resisted. It is not surprising that the criminals quickly handed over their accomplices. After Yaponchik's bandits mistakenly killed his brother instead of the inspector, Osip quit and moved to Moscow. There he talked a lot about his adventurous adventures, which was heard by the writer Kataev. It was he who suggested the plot to Ilf and Petrov. Shor was a cheerful and sociable person who was thrown around in life.

Yakov Vagin (1926-2010). This man is considered one of the founders of the Soviet school of investigation. Yakov was born in Kharkov in 1926. He worked in the Ministry of Internal Affairs for 65 years. With the outbreak of the war, Vagin and his family were evacuated to Perm. From there, on a Komsomol ticket, he was sent to the internal affairs bodies. A serious school of life took place in Yakutia, in the department for combating banditry. Then Vagin returned to Perm, where at the age of 27 he headed the first regional police department. In 1969, the detective became the head of the criminal investigation department of the Perm region. There he was able to fully demonstrate his best qualities. In terms of detection rates, Perm was second only to Moscow and Leningrad. Vagin was able to solve the high-profile case of the Vedernikov gang and catch the Kungur maniac. The policeman was distinguished by extreme humanity; he stood up for his subordinates. This allowed them to work calmly and make non-standard decisions. A talented organizer, Vagin introduced the most advanced means for solving crimes, including night vision devices. He recruited specialists of various profiles into investigative groups, each of whom, like an element of a clock, took his place.

Ivan Putilin (1830-1889). Ivan Dmitrievich Putilin belonged to the family of an ordinary collegiate registrar from Novy Oskol. At the age of 23, the young man goes to serve in the police, where he receives the position of junior assistant to the quarterly supervisor at the market. But Putilin immediately showed his talents and demonstrated courage in capturing dangerous criminals. At the age of 27, he already has an order and a medal. His career begins to develop at a breakneck speed. The huge number of solved cases also contributes to this. Putilin is called the Russian Pinkerton. In 1866, the detective was put in charge of the newly created detective police of the capital of the Russian Empire. In those years, there were no such high-profile cases in St. Petersburg that would have gone unnoticed by Putilin. He was noted for his observation, rigor and love for his work. At 45, Putilin is already a general; he is retiring for health reasons. However, his active nature cannot tolerate a measured life, and soon the detective returns to his post again to continue the fight against crime. The final resignation occurred in 1889. Putilin went to his estate, where he finished writing his memoirs, “40 Years Among Robbers and Murderers.”

Charles Field (1805-1874). Scotland Yard is a large organization, but it was people like Charles Field that brought it fame. Initially, he dreamed of being an actor, but poverty pushed him into public service. Field began his service as a simple sergeant, soon rising to the rank of inspector at the shipyards. In 1845, Charles joined the detective department, from which he left after 7 years as chief. The development of the police during these years greatly fascinated Charles Dickens. He repeatedly accompanied constables on night marches. The writer became very friendly with the detective. In the novel Bleak House, the character of Detective Bucket is based on Field. After retiring, the detective continued his activities as a private detective, although his activities were not welcomed by the authorities. For excessive interference in the investigation, the principled Englishman was even deprived of his pension for the time being. For him, detective was a kind of game; Field loved to disguise himself, doing it even when he shouldn’t.

The work of an investigator is very difficult and multifaceted.

But at the same time, this profession is in great demand!

History and concept of the profession of investigator

When identifying the profession of investigator, it is impossible to unambiguously attribute it to a single type. Because the person conducting the investigation must have a certain set of skills. Including sports training, as a law enforcement officer, and intellectual data that allows you to analyze the situation, see and solve a crime, even during its staging. And since the work is aimed at eliminating social danger and ensuring law and order, it also includes a social aspect.

The history of the investigator profession is inextricably linked with the emergence of the very concept of crime and the development of such a science as criminology. The first mentions of identifying criminals, interrogations, and searches can be traced back to the holy books: the Old, New Testament, Avesta, Koran and legal monuments of Ancient Rome, Greece, China and other states.

Early normative acts, such as the ancient Roman XII tables, the laws of King Hammurabi, "Russian Truth", systematize the list of crimes and penalties.

In individual works on criminal proceedings starting from the 17th century. recommendations are made to involve in the investigation persons who have special medical skills and the ability to recognize poisons and handwriting features.

But the emergence of criminology as an independent science occurred at the end of the 19th century. Its developers are considered to be the French scientist Alphonse Bertillon and the Austrian professor Hans Gross. Thanks to them, the first identification methods were proposed: using a person’s portrait, including using a photo of the process, and fingerprints.

Profession investigator - description

Investigators work in law enforcement agencies: in the investigative bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Investigative Committees, FSKN and FSB. In the future, for good work, the investigator may become a prosecutor in the department for supervision of investigations in the prosecutor's office or a justice adviser.

The investigator's activities include:

initiation of criminal cases;
resolving all issues arising during the investigation and taking the necessary measures.
active participation in trials of the accused;
appealing certain decisions and achieving a fair outcome in court cases.
As for the personal side of the investigator, he needs to have an analytical mind and be able to defend his opinion by citing reliable facts and evidence.

Nowadays, a huge number of lawyers graduate from numerous universities, but not all become professionals in their field.

The future investigator must receive a Higher Legal Education, since while carrying out his activities he must know:

code of Criminal Procedure,
forensics,
legislation,
logic,
psychology.

Only an erudite person who has:

Analytical mind,
flexibility of thinking,
able to express his thoughts clearly and concisely,
defend your point of view
argue for it.

This is the kind of person who can achieve a lot in this profession.

Features of the investigator's profession

The work of an investigator is an activity aimed at solving crimes. The peculiarity of his work begins with the inspection of the crime scene, identification and collection of all necessary evidence. And subsequently, after obtaining the necessary laboratory results and conclusions, determining the essential details that will go into the process of solving the crime and identifying the offender. The exact identification of the latter also depends on the level qualifications, professional qualities and experience of the investigator.

This work is very responsible, hard and dangerous. It includes irregular work hours, and the possibility of threats and even attacks. In the course of his activities, the investigator constantly encounters aggression, meanness, death, and the grief of others and bears special responsibility for all decisions made and conclusions drawn.

An investigator is a law enforcement officer who has a legal education and is involved in solving crimes. A person holding this position must have certain intellectual and psychological qualities, among them:

stress resistance
self-organization
discipline
responsibility
excerpt
ability to analyze
resourcefulness
practical thinking

Being an investigator is, first of all, a calling, savvy with legal knowledge and experience.

Profession investigator criminologist

Forensic scientists are the first to arrive at the crime scene to conduct an examination, take fingerprints, pack evidence, and then carry out all the necessary examinations in the laboratory.

In order to solve a crime, many examinations are carried out, including:

traceological (examination of remaining traces of clothing, shoes, teeth, etc.),
phonoscopic(study of recording materials aimed at identifying and establishing a person by voice and speech),
ballistic (research of weapons and ammunition),
technical examination of documents.

With the development of science, the types of examinations and research are constantly expanding and improving; at the present stage, DNA research is also being carried out, which is aimed at identifying an individual by hair, saliva, that is, by the organic traces left behind.

In addition to the skills and psychological characteristics necessary for investigative activities, a criminologist must have a special education, be careful, painstaking, and skillfully work in a team.

Profession investigator - pros and cons

But like any job, being an investigator has its pros and cons.

Working in the Authorities is prestigious and respected. It is possible to provide employees of this profession with their own housing.

In addition to legal issues, specialists will also learn about banking when investigating economic crimes, and even medical matters if the crime occurred in the healthcare sector.

The disadvantages of this profession are, of course, long working hours, round-the-clock duty and night work.

Profession investigator - salary

But unfortunately, the salary of investigators in our country is meager, although there are many requirements for this profession.

This article will help you prepare an essay, report or presentation about the profession of an investigator.

Authentic photographs of the queen of the underworld, Sonya Zolotaya Ruchka, and the “night host of Moscow” Yanka Koshelkov, who robbed the Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars, Lenin; the cassock in which the genius of the Russian detective Putilin wore; kulak sawed-off shotguns seized at the crime scene are all exhibit items at the Museum of the History of the Moscow Police. It turns out that the employees of this department, today called the police, trace their “professional” ancestry back to the formidable Streltsy army.

Good Doctor Haas

In ancient times, the functions of the police were performed by the Streltsy army. The archers differed from the current guardians of the law in that in their free time from service they had the right to engage in entrepreneurial activities and even drink bitter drinks.

“The Streltsy lived in settlements, depending on the place they guarded,” says Lyudmila Kaminskaya, head of the Museum of the History of the Moscow Department of Internal Affairs of the CC of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for Moscow. “Judging by the functions that were assigned to the Streltsy, they were also employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations , and the military, and, in fact, the police."

The historical hall of the museum also tells about the fate of criminals in Rus'. Criminals were impaled, quartered, and rotted alive in prisons and dungeons.

“Slingshots” and shackles, which were put on prisoners in the 18th-19th centuries.

It is clear that the state cared least about the health of these people. Much changed in 1830, when Dr. Fyodor Gaaz was appointed chief physician of Moscow prisons. He was horrified by the conditions of detention of prisoners, and Haaz devoted his entire life to easing their fate, since he saw in criminals, first of all, people who have the right to be treated humanely.

It was Doctor Haaz who achieved the release of the old and sick from shackles. He persistently fought for the abolition of the rod on which groups of exiled prisoners of up to 12 people were “strung” - handcuffed to it - during the transfer. People were not removed from such a rod even at night: it was believed that in this way it was easier to prevent escape.

After much delay, repeated persuasion, and petitions, the rod was finally cancelled. Haaz developed new, lighter shackles, which were called “Haaz’s.”

Fyodor Petrovich supplied the prisons with medicines purchased with his personal money. He defended the right of prisoners to improved food. Women could say a special thank you to him. The fact is that all prisoners had to shave one half of their heads. Haaz made sure that this procedure did not apply to ladies.

During his lifetime he was called a saint. The doctor, who chose the expression “hurry to do good” as the motto of his life, was buried with government money - he spent all his personal savings on charity.

Why they beat the Russian detective genius Putilin

Despite the fact that Ivan Dmitrievich Putilin headed the detective police of St. Petersburg, he occupies a place of honor in the museum’s exhibition. This “genius of Russian detective work” considered his personal enemy an equally brilliant adventurer, Sofya Ivanovna Blyuvshtein, Sonya Zolotaya Ruchka.

“It is known that the “elusive” Sonya Zolotaya Ruchka was nevertheless shackled and died in a prison hospital on Sakhalin. Although there are versions that this woman, who really had criminal talent, managed to escape from hard labor, says Lyudmila Kaminskaya. As for Putilin himself, he loved the so-called method of “infiltration” into the criminal environment.”

Ivan Dmitrievich loved to dress up as a janitor, a cab driver, a priest, or a tavern floor worker - depending on who his department was hunting. Often he was severely beaten by his own colleagues, who, having caught the criminal, simply did not recognize their boss in the detainee.

Who robbed Lenin

The original photographs of the Golden Hand, as well as the photo of the “master of night Moscow” Yanka Koshelkov, are today exhibits at the Museum of the History of the Moscow Police. In general, the exhibition contains many authentic items: documents, material evidence that once appeared in high-profile criminal cases.

Yanka Koshelkov is a famous metropolitan raider, famous for almost changing the course of Russian history. In January 1919, he carried out an armed attack on a car in which Vladimir Ilyich Lenin himself was traveling.

“Lenin, I must say, from the point of view of “victim behavior,” did everything very competently,” says Lyudmila Kaminskaya. “He gave the robber a fur coat, an award-winning Browning, a car, in a word, everything that he demanded - and remained alive.”

Of course, the brazen robbery of the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Koshelkov was expensive. In the same year, the great and terrible “master of Moscow at night” was killed by security officers.

"The Black Cat" That Wasn't There

The harsh revolutionary years of the Soviet workers' and peasants' militia are represented in the museum by a large collection of weapons. Here are Mausers, revolvers, and sawn-off shotguns seized at the crime scene. All of them are real material evidence.

The Weiner brothers wrote a wonderful novel, “The Era of Mercy,” about the struggle of MUR employees against the “Black Cat,” which terrorized the capital after the war, and director Govorukhin made the cult film “The Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed.” In fact, this “bloody” gang never existed.

The “bandits” from “Black Cat” were a group of teenagers in the third, fifth and seventh grades who decided to scare their neighbor and wrote him a threatening note, explains Lyudmila Kaminskaya. “They made themselves tattoos with ink, and on the note they drew a black cat, after which this name was attached to the ‘gang’.”

The rumor about the mysterious “Black Cat” spread throughout Moscow very quickly, turning into a real “brand”. Taking advantage of the high-profile reputation of a non-existent gang, Moscow teenagers committed petty thefts, hooliganism, and intimidated townspeople. The so-called “guest performers” – visiting thieves – also used “Cat” as cover.

“As for the Weiner brothers and their novel, they simply took advantage of this big name. The prototype of the gang, whose affairs were described in the “Era of Mercy”, was the “Tall Blonde Gang”. However, here too there are discrepancies with reality: the leader of the gang Ivan Mitin was not hunchbacked at all, but on the contrary, he was tall,” Lyudmila Kaminskaya said in conclusion in her interview with RIA Novosti.

The museum dedicated to the history of the Moscow police tells about mythical and real high-profile crimes in the capital, about those who called themselves “kings of the underworld,” and, of course, about those who simply defended the law and civilians.

The famous Scotland Yard once looked up to Russian detectives. We believe that the country should know its heroes. Today, on the Day of Investigative Authorities, it’s time to remember our legendary investigators.

Nikolay Sokolov. Historical matter.

Nikolai Sokolov investigated the most notorious crime of the 20th century - the murder of the royal family. He, the chairman of the union of forensic investigators of the Penza District Court, refused to accept the revolution, resigned from the authorities, disguised himself as a peasant and went to Siberia.

In February 1918, he was appointed by Kolchak to investigate the murder of the royal family and the case of the Alapaevsk martyrs. The conditions in which Sokolov had to conduct the investigation were extreme. The Civil War was going on, Sokolov’s investigative team interviewed witnesses and collected material evidence. The area for collecting case materials was also huge - from Yekaterinburg to Harbin.

Of course, Sokolov emigrated. The results of his investigation were partially published in 1924 in French. The Russian investigator was also famous in America. Henry Ford approached him in 1923. He wanted to present materials on the murder of the royal family as evidence in court in the case brought against him by the Zionists.

Arkady Frantsevich Koshko. Legendary innovator.

At the International Congress of Criminologists held in Switzerland in 1913, the Russian detective police were recognized as the best in the world in solving crimes. It was headed at that time by Arkady Frantsevich Koshko, a legendary investigator known not only in Russia, but also abroad.

It is mistakenly believed that England's Scotland Yard was the first to use fingerprinting when investigating crimes, but this is not so. The credit for introducing new detective methods goes to Arkady Frantsevich; he was the first in the world to create a detailed file of criminals based on anthropometric and fingerprint data. Scotland Yard became the successor to this system.

When Arkady Koshko found himself in exile, he could not find work for a long time. Scotland Yard did not forget about the merits of the Russian investigator and offered him a high position, but the condition was the adoption of British citizenship. Koshko refused.

Arkady Koshko did not bury his talent abroad and wrote three volumes of memoirs, which are still a reference book for any investigator. They are called “Essays on the criminal world of Tsarist Russia. Memoirs of the former head of the Moscow detective police and head of the entire criminal investigation department of the Empire.”

Based on Koshko’s stories, the series “Kings of Russian Detective” was filmed in 1995, and in 2004 the film “The Adjuster” was shot by Kira Muratova.

Ivan Putilin. Know everything.

Ivan Putilin is a legendary personality. At the end of the 19th century, everyone knew about him. And this is not surprising: Putilin went from a scribe to the head of the Petersburg investigation. He was respected not only by his colleagues, but also by the leaders of the criminal world. He was the first to apply investigative techniques that are still used today, and developed a high-quality agent network among all classes of St. Petersburg society. If a mouse runs in the wrong place, they will report this to Putilin in an hour, and in another half hour the mouse will be found. Putilin became a literary prototype and the hero of several films.

Anatoly Fedorovich Koni recalled this about the famous investigator: “In St. Petersburg in the first half of the 70s there was not a single large and complex criminal case in which Putilin would not have put his work into the search. I clearly had to become familiar with his amazing research abilities crimes in January 1873, when the murder of Hieromonk Hilarion was discovered in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra... Late in the evening, on the same day, they let me know that the murderer had been arrested.”

Vladimir Arapov. Almost Sharapov.

Vladimir Arapov is the prototype of Sharapov from the “Era of Mercy” by the Weiner brothers and the film “The Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed.” However, the former operative and investigator himself approaches such fame with restraint, with irony, time after time convincing journalists that Sharapov is a collective image, and his character is rather Zheglov’s.

Indeed, it is unlikely that Sharapov would ever have earned the nickname “black colonel.” But Vladimir Arapov was called that by his colleagues. It must be for his tough temper and uncompromising nature. Arapov headed the headquarters for the search for the “Mosgaz” maniac, and his employee was the “live bait” during the arrest of Ionesyan.

Arapov investigated the sensational case of the “Mitin gang”. This criminal group terrorized Moscow in the 50s and became the prototype of the Black Cat. Arapov personally participated in the arrest of Lukin, Mitin’s right hand. The story about infiltration into the gang was combined by the Weiners with another story from Arapov’s biography. He did infiltrate the gang and work undercover, but this was after the war itself, in 1946.

Nikolay Kitaev. Unmask the magician.

Solving any case is similar to the process of exposure. It is always a search for true motives and subtle knowledge of psychology, but the investigator does not always solve only criminal cases. A unique biography of the former investigator for especially important cases of the prosecutor's office of the Irkutsk region, Nikolai Kitaev. He gained fame thanks to... the exposure of Wolf Messing.

Kitaev conducted an investigation in which he proved that he was a “project” of the famous journalist Mikhail Khvastunov. In the 60s, when Khvastunov was recognized as a master of journalism, the investigation of the Siberian Kitaev immediately acquired sensational status. However, no one was able to refute the conclusions of the Irkutsk investigator. The investigation was carried out with all meticulousness. The argument of Nikolai Kitaev, who carried out enormous archival work both in the USSR and abroad, was “not to be undermined.”

Yakov Vagin. Clockworker.

Yakov Vagin headed the Perm criminal investigation department for 17 years, until 1986. During his work, Perm came in third place in terms of crime detection, which was a huge achievement. Almost all major and minor cases were solved. Yakov Vagin solved the case of the Vedernikov brothers, who killed police officers, caught the “Kungur maniac” who, having watched enough of “The Hound of the Baskervilles,” went hunting in a luminous mask...

Colleagues nicknamed Yakov Vagin “the watchmaker.” He always competently organized the work of investigative teams, providing them with everything they needed. He did not disdain new technologies. His initiative was to equip investigative teams with night vision devices. Vagina is remembered as a “brilliant human being”; he helped his employees and war veterans with solving housing problems. His employees truly respected and appreciated him. And there was a reason - Yakov Vagin devoted 65 years of his life to investigation.

Amurkhan Yandiev. Catch a maniac.

Perhaps, the talent of an investigator can be most fully revealed when investigating cases of serial maniacs. In these matters there are no financial interests of different groups of society, no politics and corruption. There is a mentally unbalanced person whose logic of actions is different from the logic of a healthy person. This significantly complicates the work and requires a special algorithm of action.

Before Operation Forest Belt, launched in 1985 to capture Andrei Chikatilo, there was no system for searching for serial killers in the USSR. It was a unique operation, during which it was not only possible to catch the maniac, but also solved more than 1,500 crimes along the way. The investigation team was headed by Amurkhan Yandiev.

Today this personality is already legendary. In addition to the capture of Chikatilo, he also solved many other cases, but it was the Chikatilo case that became “the story of life” for the investigator. Amurkhan Khadrisovich still gives lectures at law universities today and always answers all questions from listeners about a case that was almost 30 years old. Yandiev personally interrogated the maniac, built a trusting relationship with him, although he never forgot: in front of him was a beast who had brutally and dirtyly dealt with almost fifty people.

Amurkhan Yandiev is still exploring the topic of serial killers. His forecasts are not rosy. In an interview with Arguments and Facts, he noted the role of social factors and said: “The generation born from 1989 to 1999 is essentially a “risk group”. These children will enter active life in about a year in 2010 - 2015. Hence assumption: in these years it is quite possible to expect the emergence of new maniacs. Moreover, this is typical not only for the Don, but for all of Russia."

After such words from a specialist, the desire to build a healthy society greatly intensifies.

Photo: still from the film "Arkady Koshko: the genius of Russian detective"

Lifehacker has collected the best detective stories from different eras: from classics of the genre to films in the neo-noir style. All of them have high ratings on IMDb. Many have been awarded prestigious awards and nominations.

Thriller, drama, detective.
USA, 1974.
Duration: 130 minutes.
IMDb: 8.2.

The film by Roman Polanski tells the story of private detective Jake Gittes. A rich lady approaches him, suspecting her husband of... The detective begins an investigation, not knowing how it will turn out for him.

The film was nominated for 11 Oscars and received one statuette for best screenplay. But the Golden Globe jury and the British Film Academy did not skimp on awards for Jack Nicholson (Best Actor) and Roman Polanski (Best Director).

Thriller, detective.
USA, 1954.
Duration: 105 minutes.
IMDb: 8.2.

Tennis star Tony Wendice suspects that his wife has fallen in love with famous detective story author Mark Halliday. Out of fear of losing all his money, he plots to kill his wife. Tony comes up with a detailed plan, but does not take into account Holliday's excellent analytical skills.

3. Window to the courtyard

Thriller, detective.
USA, 1954.
Duration: 112 minutes.
IMDb: 8.5.

A photojournalist breaks his leg and ends up in a wheelchair. Out of boredom, he watches his neighbors and comes to the conclusion that a murder has occurred in their house.

Detective, thriller.
USSR, 1987.
Duration: 130 minutes.
IMDb: 8.0.

10 strangers arrive at the estate. The owners of the house are not there, but the butler kindly helps the guests to accommodate themselves. He later plays a recording of an unknown voice accusing each guest of murder.

Thriller, drama, detective.
USA, 1957.
Duration: 116 minutes.
IMDb: 8.4.

Seriously ill lawyer Wilfrid Robarts is forced to stop working in court. But then his attention is drawn to a very complex criminal case. Leonard Vole is accused of murdering his close and very wealthy girlfriend. All evidence points to Leonard as the culprit. Despite the doctors' prohibitions, the lawyer takes on this losing case.

Horror, detective.
UK, Canada, USA, 1987.
Duration: 113 minutes.
IMDb: 7.3.

Mr. Cypher turns to private detective Harry Angel. He asks to find a man who disappeared after the war. The detective begins an investigation. And the further his search progresses, the more confusing the matter becomes.

7. Not caught - not a thief

Thriller, drama, detective.
USA, 2006.
Duration: 129 minutes.
IMDb: 7.6.

The perfect bank robbery takes place in downtown New York. There are no clues. But that doesn't stop Detective Fraser. He begins an investigation and soon finds out that the criminals were interested in something more than money.

Noir, detective.
USA, 1941.
Duration: 100 minutes.
IMDb: 8.1.

The noir film follows private investigator Sam Spade as he embarks on a deadly race to recover a missing Maltese falcon figurine.

The film was a great success with critics and audiences. The film was nominated for three “” awards, and in 1989 it was included in the US National Film Registry.

Drama, detective.
USA, 1941.
Duration: 119 minutes.
IMDb: 8.4.

Newspaper magnate Charles Kane dies in his mansion, uttering the word "Rosebud" before his death. To find out the meaning of the mysterious message, journalists begin an investigation and find out who Citizen Kane really was.

Orson Welles' legendary film received nine Oscar nominations, but received only one award for Best Original Screenplay. Nevertheless, the contribution of this film to cinema is priceless. The American Film Institute compiled a list in 1998 AFI's 100 GREATEST AMERICAN MOVIES OF ALL TIME of the best American films, in which “Citizen Kane” was in first place.

Thriller, drama, detective.
USA, 1974.
Duration: 113 minutes.
IMDb: 7.9.

A successful businessman hired Harry Cole, a top wiretapping specialist, to spy on the young couple. Usually Cole does not delve into the essence of other people's conversations, but simply does the work and transfers the data to the customer. However, this time he gave up his own rule to prevent the murder.

Thriller, detective.
USA, 1985.
Duration: 94 minutes.
IMDb: 7.3.

The mysterious murder of Mr. Boddy takes place in the mansion. The guests deny any involvement, although each of them had a serious motive. To clear themselves of blame, the suspects need someone hiding in the house.

Comedy, detective.
USA, 1934.
Duration: 91 minutes.
IMDb: 8.1.

On Christmas Eve, the secretary of the famous inventor Vanant is found dead. The first suspect is Vanant himself, who disappears without a trace.

13. Goodbye baby, goodbye

Thriller, drama, detective.
USA, 2007.
Duration: 114 minutes.
IMDb: 7.7.

A little girl goes missing in Boston. Her aunt turns to two private investigators because the police are moving too slowly. Detectives are reluctant to take on a case that will change their lives forever.

Thriller, detective.
Great Britain, 1949.
Duration: 104 minutes.
IMDb: 8.2.

Romance author Holly Martins comes to Vienna to meet her old friend only to discover that he has died in an accident. The police consider the deceased a criminal and a scoundrel. Then Martins decides to conduct his own investigation in order to restore the good name of his comrade and prove that it was a murder.

15. Zodiac

Thriller, drama, detective.
USA, 2007.
Duration: 158 minutes.
IMDb: 7.7.

Residents of San Francisco are in fear of a serial killer nicknamed the Zodiac. Employees of a local newspaper team up with police detectives to reveal the identity of the maniac and break the chain of murders.

16. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Thriller, detective.
USA, Sweden, Norway, 2011.
Duration: 153 minutes.
IMDb: 7.8.

Thriller, detective.
USA, 1946.
Duration: 109 minutes.
IMDb: 8.0.

General Sternwood's daughter is being blackmailed. Detective Marlowe agrees to find the extortionists. But this is not so easy to do: the suspects die one after another.

18. Shutter Island

Thriller, detective.
USA, 2010.
Duration: 138 minutes.
IMDb: 8.1.

Two marshals come to the island, where there is a psychiatric hospital for criminals. They will have to investigate the patient's escape and uncover the secrets of this dangerous place.

19. Brick

Detective, drama.
USA, 2005.
Duration: 110 minutes.
IMDb: 7.4.

A brutal teenage story about a guy named Brendan Fry. One day he meets his ex-girlfriend Emily, who soon disappears without a trace. Brendan senses something is wrong and goes looking for her.

20. Kiss Bang Bang

, detective.
USA, 2005.
Duration: 103 minutes.
IMDb: 7.6.

Unlucky thief Harry Lockhart, fleeing from the police, gets an audition. The producer notices Harry and casts him as a detective. And to make the image convincing, the former thief is sent for an internship to the real detective Perry van Shrike. The heroes go to investigate a murder and find themselves in comical situations.

21. Captives

Thriller, drama, detective.
USA, 2013.
Duration: 153 minutes.
IMDb: 8.1.

Two little girls go missing at a neighbor's party. The police are investigating, but all they have is a van parked near the victims' house. The father of one of the girls cannot sit idly by and begins to look for his daughter on his own.

Thriller, drama, detective.
USA, 1997.
Duration: 138 minutes.
IMDb: 8.3.

The neo-noir film tells the story of three detectives investigating a mass murder in a cafe. Evidence leads the police to the bandits, who die in a shootout. The case is closed, but detectives begin to doubt that these were the same killers from the cafe.

23. Murder on the Orient Express

Drama, detective.
Great Britain, 1974.
Duration: 128 minutes.
IMDb: 7.3.

A murder occurred in one of the compartments of the trans-European express. The train is stuck in the snow, so until the police arrive, the investigation is led by Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. The case turns out to be complicated, because each passenger on the train had a motive for the murder., 2003.

Duration: 131 minutes.

IMDb: 8.1.

Two women are killed in the Korean countryside. The police are trying to find the killer by any means. When they reach a dead end, Seoul detective Seo Tae-yoon is sent to help them.

Drama, detective.
USA, 1944.
Duration: 88 minutes.
IMDb: 8.1.

Police Lieutenant McPherson is assigned to investigate the murder of successful businesswoman Laura Hunt. The detective takes a liking to the deceased and decides to look into her apartment, not suspecting what awaits him there.

Drama, detective.
USA, 1967.
Duration: 109 minutes.
IMDb: 8.0.

At a time when racial prejudice was still strong, a black and white police officer gets the chance to work together. Detectives differ not only in skin color, but also in their views and methods. To successfully solve the case, two police officers will have to learn to work together. The film received five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor.

Instead of the son of a successful businessman Gondo, criminals kidnap the child of his personal driver. Gondo is faced with a choice: pay the ransom and bankrupt his company or be tormented by guilt for the rest of his life.

29. Suspicious persons

Thriller, drama, detective.
USA, Germany, 1995.
Duration: 106 minutes.
IMDb: 8.6.

Police are investigating the death of 27 people due to the ship explosion. In their search for the truth, the investigators are helped by a surviving criminal named Chatterbox, who was planning to run a small business with his friends.

The British Academy awarded the film a statuette for Best Film, and Kevin Spacey received an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

Drama, detective.
Japan, 1950.
Duration: 88 minutes.
IMDb: 8.3.

The plot of the film takes place in Japan in the 11th century. The case of the murder of a samurai and the rape of his wife is being investigated. The investigation has four versions of what happened. But which one to choose if each witness is sure that he is telling the truth?