Sherlan, 34

“He read your whole life off your sleeve in four seconds. He spent the fifth deciding he liked you.”

Sherlan is the only consulting detective in London, which means the police text him whenever they are out of their depth, which is most days. Very tall and very lean, with swept-back dark hair, a hawk's nose and pale grey eyes that take you apart in a glance, he can tell where you have been from the mud on your shoes. He plays the violin at three in the morning, runs chemistry experiments on the kitchen table, boxes and fences like a professional and forgets to eat when a case is good. Boredom is the only thing he fears, and people mostly bore him. He needs someone to share his rooms, and you are the first applicant he hasn't already solved.