The Female Detective

by Andrew Forrester, Mike Ashley (Introduction)

In 1864, the British writer James Redding Ware (1832–c.1909), under the pseudonym Andrew Forrester, published The Female Detective, introducing readers to the first professional female detective character, G., and paving the way for the more famous female detectives of the early twentieth century, namely Miss Marple and Nancy Drew. This edition from the British Library makes The Female Detective available for the first time as a trade paperback for the general public.           Characteristic of the casebooks of the time, The Female Detective features a number of different cases, each of which is narrated by G. She uses methods similar to those of her male counterparts, examining the scene of the crime, looking for clues, and employing skill and subterfuge to achieve her ends, all the while trying to conceal her own tracks and her identity from others. Her deductive methods anticipate those of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, who would not appear for another twenty years, and like Holmes, she regards the regular constabulary with disdain. For all the intrigue and interest of the stories, little is ever revealed about G. herself, and her personal circumstances remain a mystery throughout. But it is her energetic and savvy approach to solving crimes that is her greatest appeal, and the reappearance of the original lady detective will captivate a new generation of crime fiction fans.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Classics, Victorian, Short Stories, 19th Century

316 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1864

About the author

Pseudonym used by James Redding Ware.

Reviews

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while) · Rating 3 out of 5]

EXCERPT: I know well that my trade is despised. I have all along known this fact so well that I have hidden my trade from those about me. Whether these are relations or friends, or merely acquaintances, I have no need here to tell.
My friends suppose I am a dressmaker, who goes out by the day or week - my enemies, what I have, are in a great measure convinced that my life is a very questionable one.
In my heart of hearts, I am at a loss to decide at which side I laugh most - at my friends, who suppose me so very innocent, or at my enemies who believe me to be not far removed from guilty.

ABOUT 'THE FEMALE DETECTIVE': The Female Detective is the first novel in British fiction to feature a professional female detective. Written by Andrew Forrester, it was originally published in 1864. The protagonist is Miss Gladden, or 'G' as she is also known - the precursor to Miss Marple, Mma Ramotswe and Lisbeth Salander.

Miss Gladden's deductive methods and energetic approach anticipate those of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, and she can be seen as beginning a powerful tradition of female detectives in these seven short stories. 'G' uses similar methods to her male counterparts – she enters scenes of crime incognito, tracking down killers while trying to conceal her own tracks and her identity from others.

'G', the first female detective, does much physical detective work, examining crime scenes, looking for clues and employing all manner of skill, subterfuge, observation and charm solve crimes. Like Holmes, 'G' regards the regular constabulary with disdain. For all the intrigue and interest of the stories, little is ever revealed about 'G' herself, and her personal circumstances remain a mystery throughout. But it is her ability to apply her considerable energy and intelligence to solve crimes that is her greatest appeal.

MY THOUGHTS: Despite the great deal of pontification that occurs, some of these stories are quite interesting, The Unknown Weapon in particular. Others contain so much pontification mostly about how she works rather than actually working on a case, that it's very easy to lose the thread of the mystery and feel quite lost.

This book was published in 1864, and so the language and sentence structure reflects the era. Some things are very long-winded indeed!

I was initially under the impression that Mrs G was a private detective, but this is incorrect. She is in fact a member of the police force, a fact that is not made clear until one of the later stories. One thing that puzzles me though . . . why does she not ever go near a police station? And in only oneof the stories does she work alongside another police officer.

🌟🌟.5

#TheFemaleDetective #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Andrew Forrester is a pseudonym of James Redding Ware.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for providing a digital ARC of The Female Detective by Andrew Forrester for review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own personal opinions.

[Katie Lumsden · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very intriguing read. I liked some stories more than others. There are a few great mysteries here, and I enjoyed the writing very much.

[Nancy Oakes]

I can't really give a number on this one but it's somewhere between like a 2.8 and a 3. I was just so disappointed, which hasn't been my reaction to any book up to now in my history of mystery reading project.

Having finished this book now, I have to say that out of the seven stories in this book, there are only four in which the "female detective" plies her craft. It's rather disappointing, when I think about it, since it seems to me that if you're going to write about a woman detective this early on in the crime fiction/detective fiction/mystery game, each and every story should involve a woman doing detecting. But no. Technically speaking, since the woman here is "regarded as the first female professional detective to appear in fiction," one might think that the male author would have given her an entire volume of her own, but no. Sheesh -- even for the Victorian era that's messed up.

There is much more about what I think of this book and its obvious follow-up, Revelations of a Lady Detective at my crime-reading journal. Cautiously recommended, but only because of its milestone status in the history of crime/mystery/detection reading.

[Inés · Rating 2 out of 5]

2'5 ⭐

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

So to another British Library crime classic and this time the Female Detective - one of the earliest entries in the series published at the turn of century - as the blurb on the back page states - many years before there actually were female detectives.

The book is in fact a series of short stories - told by the aforementioned detective - regaling about former cases and experiences. The stories do reflect their age with tone and use of words which all help towards grounding the stories in the age they were intended - so rather than hindering they actually help to a certain extend.

The only negative - which is hardly surprising really is that it was written by a man - who as you can imagine made many assumptions- the most obvious of which is reflected in the language at times. However as a slice of crime fiction history this is a worthy addition to the series

[James Hold · Rating 1 out of 5]

A far better title would be THE FEMALE WINDBAG. The book is full of unnecessary and redundant repetition. If only she'd shut up and get to the point. It has both a forward and an introduction, neither of which serves any purpose. Then we get the stories, each of which contains a little sermonette before getting underway. On page 9, we get: '...that which I am about to relate, and to which I have given the title of "Tenant for Life".' Well geez, but I already know that since that's what's on the title page. Did you think I'd forget it after your long rambling intro? 'Georgy' is mercifully shorter, but I never got the point of it. The rest of the stories were equally uninteresting. If this is what readers in 1864 were treated to, then it is easy to understand the levels of illiteracy at the time. If garbage like TFD is all they had to offer, then why bother learning?

The deal is, I'm starting to have problems with this 'British Library Crime Classics' series. This is my third book and everyone has been a waste of time.

[Bev · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Female Detective was published in 1864. Written by James Redding Ware under the pseudonym Andrew Forrester, it not only represents what is probably the first stories about the Metropolitan Police (formed in 1829) but also introduces readers to the first professional female detective in fiction. She is unnamed in the longest story, "The Unknown Weapon," but in other stories by Forrester, she is referred to as Mrs. G---- of the Metropolitan Police. She makes reference to herself and another female officer as constables...and I find it interesting to have references to female constables at this early date

Mrs. G---- generally works undercover and only represents herself as a detective when she must. We learn very little about her--later female detectives will be described as falling into their profession out of need, either to support themselves or loved ones in reduced circumstances. But we don't even learn that much about Mrs. G----. The stories themselves are very casebook in nature, running true to the form of other casebooks of the time. Like her male counterparts, she uses professional methods--hunting for clues, looking over the scene of the crime, questioning suspects, and using cunning and disguise to reach her conclusions. But not all of her cases are great successes. She tells at least two stories where the culprit gets away and she isn't shy about relating the shortcomings of the police force of the time.

In "Tenant for Life" Mrs. G--- becomes interested in a story that her friends the Flemps tell her. Mr. Flemps is a driver and while out driving one evening a poor young women approaches him and asks him to take her child to raise (as she cannot afford to). Flemps has no sooner taken the child and started on his way again when another young woman approaches him--first to hire him for transport, but then when he refuses to ask if he has seen a young woman with a child. The child in his carriage cries and the woman is ecstatic to have found the child and pays Flemps to take the child away. Mrs. G---- is intrigued by the story and feels sure that someone somewhere is up to no good. She determines to get to the bottom of the story and by the end she knows that it involves the rightful heir of some very important property.

"Georgy" relays one of the failures. Georgy is a clerk at a local bank. He manages to abscond with a goodly sum and does so in a fashion that makes it impossible for the authorities to catch up with him. Mrs. G---- tells us the particulars of the case to let her readers know that criminals maybe the most charming of fellows and completely fool the most cunning of detectives (namely, Mrs. G----).


"The Unraveled Mystery" is about a mysterious carpet bag that appears on one of the Thames bridges. It contains bits of human remains, but no head. The official police are baffled and seem unable to solve the mystery Mrs. G----'s colleague, Dr. Y----, comes to tell Mrs. G--- about his theory about the case. We also have one of the first instances where we are told in a detective story that the use of a knife indicates that the murderer/s must be foreign. Englishmen just don't use knives, you know.


"The Judgement of Conscience" is a shorter work. In this one, Mrs. G---- insists on ballistic evidence being examined. Her insistence saves an innocent man from being hanged for a crime he did not commit.


"A Child Found Dead: Murder or No Murder" is an odd little tale. Mrs. G--- is not really the detective here. She relays the story as told to her by Dr. Y----. A young child is killed and the reader is asked to believe that the killer struck while sleepwalking. If true (I'm not convinced), does that make the killing murder? Can somebody be convicted for murder for a death caused while they are sleepwalking? I don't know how to answer that one. But it doesn't really matter to me, because I don't really believe that someone would kill under those circumstances.

"The Unknown Weapon" is the longest of the stories. It is about the death of the son of a miserly old man who is killed while apparently in the the process of breaking into his own father's house. He has been stabbed with a weapon that no seems to be able to identify. Mrs. G---- is a thoroughly scientific detective in this outing, reminding the reader of Holmes. Had she the advantages of his training at university, I'm sure she would have examined her own bits of fluff under the microscope rather than sending them off in a tin box and directing "it to the gentleman who is good enough to control these kind of investigations." She faithfully takes up every piece of evidence, giving it a more thorough going-over than the local constable, looks over the scene of the crime, and thinks the problem through with logic that Holmes could not fault. There is no "feminine intuition" at work; it is a thoughtful, orderly investigation. The grand finale is a bit of a let-down--but over all a very good early detective story.

"The Mystery"is the final and shortest of the entries. It's not really much of a mystery at all. A young woman is told by her father that she must marry the man he has chosen or he will lock her in her room until she complies. She is in love with someone else and refuses to obey her father. She manages to get a message to her love and then escapes from the locked room. How she got out and what happens next is the only (tiny) mystery that needs explained.

The best story is "The Unknown Weapon." It ranks at four stars--balancing the entire collection out at a solid three-star rating.

This was first posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book that is more interesting in what it presaged in literature than in terms of the book itself. Widely accepted as the first work of fiction to star a professional female sleuth (it's predated in the amateur female sleuth genre by Susan Hopley, Or, The Adventures of a Maid-servant by Catherine Crowe), the book is remarkable largely on that ground only. (Although it is interesting that it features a story based on the infamous Road Hill House Murder, arguably the first major crime to inspire such fictional imitation.) The writing is dense even by Victorian standards and Forrester's idea of writing a female character is to mostly mention that she's female every chance the (first person) narration gets, alongside reminding us that she's a detective. It's much more a procedural than a mystery, and while it is fascinating to see pre-modern methodology, this is one of those texts that I strictly recommend for genre historians.

[Lorena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting for its historical significance, for the most part, and for explicitly acknowledging the private spaces to which a woman would have access that a man would not. Also interesting as a perfect encapsulation of the early Victorian versions of what constitutes a "happy" (or at least satisfying) ending...inconvenient children not born to the appropriate parents under the appropriate circumstances die young before they can inherit; legal but morally suspect heirs drop dead (apparent cause of death: too much sin-iness) and divert the course of succession into more appropriate channels, and, of course, law breakers with justice but not the law on their side commit honorable suicide before they can be taken to jail in disgrace. Happy!

[Timár_Krisztina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hét kis viktoriánus krimi egy kötetben, százötven évvel ezelőttről, amikor még éppen hogy feltalálták a műfajt odaát Amerikában. Regénynek túl széteső, novellának túl összeálló, mit tudom én, mi ez, én jól elvoltam vele. Mondjuk, hogy történetfüzér, amelyet a főszereplő személye tart össze. Aki a világirodalom legelső női detektívje. Abból az időből, amikor még nem is léteztek női rendőrök vagy detektívek Angliában. Másutt se nagyon.

Utóirat: Bechdel-teszten átmegy.

Továbbiak a blogon:
https://gyujtogeto-alkoto.blog.hu/202...

[Ad · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book can claim to be the beginning of the tradition in the crime literature of the female detective: Miss Gladden (or “G”) is the first female professional detective to appear in fiction. She is a somewhat mysterious figure, even her name is not revealed ("Miss Gladden" is supposed to be an assumed name) and we learn little about her. "G" is not directly employed by the police, but is a sort of inquiry agent who works independently but on behalf of the authorities. "G" may also initiate her own inquiries (as she does in "Tenant for Life" with rather disastrous results). She usually works undercover and only introduces herself as a detective when the need arises or when her investigations have come to a close. Her strong point is that she can get into places where men cannot, as she as a woman is not seen as a threat.

It is interesting to note how far these stories are ahead of their times: in 1864 when they were published, there were no women detectives in Britain (and no women police officers either) - and there would not be any for another 50 years. No wonder that Miss Gladden operated undercover!

By the way, only months after "The Female Detective" saw the light, a similar story collection called "Revelations of a Lady Detective" (attributed to William Stephens Hayward) appeared, but unfortunately this was a false dawn. The next female detective in Britain would only appear 30 years later, in the form of "The Experiences of Loveday Brooke, Lady Detective" by Catherine L. Piskis in 1894 (finally written by a woman).

The author, James Redding Ware (1832-c. 1909, pseudonym Andrew Forrester), was a much-published writer and editor, who turned his hand to all kinds of subjects, but remained in obscurity - even the year of his death is not certain. Ware published two more collections of detective stories.

In the longer stories of the "The Female Detective", being "Tenant for Life" and "The Unknown Weapon", Ware developed a strong, three-dimensional character, with ingenious skills of deduction. Although written by a man, the stories depict a decided woman's outlook. But on the negative side, out of the seven stories in this book (two novellas of about 100 pages each and five short stories), there are only four in which the "female detective" plies her craft. Moreover, several of the stories have no plot but are more like essays on the duties and techniques of the detective. Therefore this book is mainly interesting for its historical significance, and for explicitly acknowledging the private spaces to which a woman would have access that a man would not.

There is no origin story, but a short introduction presenting Miss Gladden. Besides that, I recommend the two longer stories mentioned above, especially "The Unknown Weapon," which has a clever trick in its solution. The language is a bit stiff and stilted, but "G" certainly is a self-assured and realistic detective.

See my blog https://adblankestijn.blogspot.com/.

[Damaskcat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of short stories featuring Mrs Gladden - the first female detective. The book is primarily of interest because it shows how crimes could be detected by deduction and by meticulous collection of evidence. Mrs Gladden has a huge advantage over her male counterparts in that she is not generally regarded with suspicion because she is female. She has another profession as a milliner and as such she can go into houses where she makes and repairs hats and can sit and chat with the servants and accumulate a lot of information about the household without appearing to do so.

She is good at talking to people and finding out their stories and people seem to warm to her and tell her things they might not tell anyone else. I particularly like the story which is very similar to the Road House Mystery - which was covered in detail by Kate Summerscale in The Suspicions of Mr Whicher. I also like the last story in the book - The Mystery - which made me laugh.

This book starts off slowly and is written in a rather more ponderous style than modern readers are used to but it is worth persevering as I found I really got into the stories once I slowed down my reading speed in order to appreciate what was being said. There are plenty of touches of humour and an excellent knowledge of human nature in the stories. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review.

[russell barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a rum do and no mistake.

Plucked from the British Library's archives, the problem with this collection is one of false advertising: In the back of your mind, driven by the blurb and introductions (including one Alexander McCall Smith must have knocked off at the wrong end of a bottle of gin) is the much-heralded lineage of narrator, "Mrs G" as the eponymous - and first ever - literary female detective and ancestor to Miss Marple, Mma Ramotswe, and (apparently) Lisabeth Salandar.

Whilst this may be true, it raises some unfair expectations of Forrester/Ware's tales. We are not treated to a torrent of Marplean deductions, we don't see Mrs G using her female wiles to circumnavigate the law to bring in the bad guys - in fact of the six stories I think she only manages to capture one or two culprits at best. She does drink and chat an awful lot, so maybe the Ramotswe comparison is a fair one.

Instead of ground-shaking literary fair it feels like you're reading a selection of blood-curdling crimes rendered into particularly tedious crime reports from vaults of Queen Victoria's Peelers, complete with the convoluted English so beloved by the Met today.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5⭐
Me habría gustado más desarrollo en algunos relatos que parecían muy interesantes, o me sobraba alguno (como el de Georgy, que ni fu ni fa, diferente a los otros pero se me queda muy flojo comparado con los demás). En general me ha gustado mucho y los relatos largos claramente están muy bien narrados y son interesantes, y más para la época.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Female Detective was published in 1864 when law enforcement organizations were cutting edge. Mike Ashley's introduction to The Female Detective notes the first British police agency was organized in 1829 and Scotland Yard was created in 1842. Edgar Allen Poe introduced the first detective in fiction in 1841. Alan Pinkerton employed the first woman detective in 1856. The character of 'Miss B', undercover police agent, was novel and original.

The Female Detective stories were written by Andrew Forrester, the pen name of writer and editor James Redding Ware. His unnamed heroine addresses the reader to explain the importance of her secretive work and justify the role of the female spy in society.

Who am I?It can matter little who I am.
I would have my readers at once accept my declaration that whatever may be the results of the practice of my profession in others, in me that profession has not led me towards hardheartedness.
For what reason do I write this book?
...I may as well say at once I write in order to show, in a small way, that the profession to which I belong is so useful that it should not be despised.
Seven stories follow, some showing how our female detective operates, some are stories she has heard, and the last story is a comedic delight that is quite Dickensian in humor. Her purpose is to broadly illustrate the importance of the detective.

Miss B predates Sherlock Holmes but uses the same logical thinking to puzzle out her cases. She posses as a milliner or takes up local residence to gain access to her subject. She cross-examines in the guise of a friendly ear. Then she makes her deduction and sets out for proof.

Her powers of observation are astute. Boot marks "have sent more men to the gallows, as parts of circumstantial evidence than any other proof whatever," Miss B proclaims. She advises evildoers to carry a second pair of boots to wear while committing their crime! She explains what she calls the "audacity of hiding," that the safest hiding place is the most obvious, citing "the great enigma-novelist, Edgar Poe" who illustrated this when a man places a letter in a card-rack on the mantelpiece when he knows his house will be searched.
...the value of the detective lies not so much in discovering facts, as in putting them together and finding out what they mean.
Because our female detective is not heartless, but is committed to the law, she can find herself faced with perplexing moral choices. She places her duty above pity.
A man is your friend, but if he transgresses that law which it is your duty to see observed, you have no right to spare him...
She accuses the English police system as requiring "more intellect infused into it. Many of the men are extraordinarily acute and are able to seize facts as they rise to the surface. But they are unable to work out what is below the surface."

I enjoyed the sense of humor in the writing, often at the expense of her male coequals. "I found out the constable, and I am constrained to say--a greater fool I never indeed did meet. He was too stupid to be anything else than utterly, though idiotically, honest."

The stories are varied in subject and style; some are recognizable as traditional detective fiction, some more anecdotal and not directly related to Miss B. I enjoyed reading them all.

I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Described as a novel but actually two novellas of about 100 pages each and a few short stories, this collection written in 1864 is the first to feature a female detective in British literature. The female detective features strongly in the novellas though she is not developed much as a character other than by revealing her belief in being devoted and objective in her work. She never even identifies herself by name other than a pseudonym she uses when one is needed as a undercover detective and within the force. The book includes only brief references to how women in general and acting as detectives have access to some locations that are more off-limits to men and can more easily get information from other women, and the novelty of using a woman as an undercover officer made the novellas more intriguing. The narrator's "Introduction" at the beginning of the collection is does a good job of developing this idea and the narrator's attitude toward her profession, but this also left me disappointed that they were not developed more in the stories that followed. "Tenant for Life" doesn't really have much mystery to it as the truth would be quickly suspected by most readers, and it is not quite as good as the other novella, "The Unknown Weapon." Both of them I mostly liked for how the female detective conducts her undercover work and conveys her attitude about what she discovers. But she is not even a character in most of the short stories in which she as a narrator just relates fairly unstimulating tales she has heard. The short stories as a whole are fairly unimpressive. I recommend not even reading "The Mystery" at the end of the collection, or if you must read it, don't do it last as that will leave a bad taste in your mouth due to the simpleness of its plot and mystery. I'm a big fan of Victorian detective literature, which probably makes this book more appealing to me than most reader, and I put added value on it being the first British "novel" to feature a female detective, which made me reflect more on how she was portrayed. The introduction by Mike Ashley does a good job of placing this historical context and discusses just how novel of an idea it was to have a female detective as there not even any female police officers in Britain for another 50 years after this book's publication.

[Susan Amper · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Female Detective" by Andrew Forrester is an enthralling and groundbreaking novel that holds the distinction of being the first British fiction to feature a professional female detective. Originally published in 1864, this captivating work introduces readers to Miss Gladden, also known as 'G,' who serves as the precursor to iconic female detectives like Miss Marple and Lisbeth Salander.

Set in an era dominated by male investigators, Miss Gladden's deductive methods and energetic approach boldly pave the way for future female detectives in literature. Drawing similarities to Arthur Conan Doyle's famed Sherlock Holmes, 'G' exhibits remarkable intelligence and ingenuity, leaving no stone unturned in her pursuit of justice. She enters crime scenes incognito, tracking down killers while carefully concealing her own tracks and identity from others.

Andrew Forrester skillfully crafts seven short stories that showcase 'G's' impressive sleuthing abilities. Like her male counterparts, she fearlessly examines crime scenes, searching for vital clues and employing various skills, subterfuge, observation, and charm to solve the most challenging cases. In doing so, she disregards the traditional constabulary, challenging societal norms and stereotypes with her unwavering determination.

Although little is revealed about 'G's' personal life, it is her ability to apply her considerable energy and intellect to crime-solving that captivates readers the most. Her enigmatic nature adds to her allure, leaving us yearning for more insight into her character as we become absorbed in the captivating tales.

"The Female Detective" is a testament to Andrew Forrester's ingenuity and vision, as he bravely introduces a female protagonist in a genre dominated by male detectives. For lovers of crime fiction, this novel presents a compelling blend of intrigue, intelligence, and trailblazing character dynamics. Miss Gladden's reappearance in the literary world will undoubtedly be celebrated, as she has carved her place in history as one of the earliest and most influential female detectives.


Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and Net Galley for the ARC.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a not insignificant portion of the bookish world that seeks out the first instance of particular characters and genres. Because I am a trivia hound, I follow scholars who try to identify the first novel (probably The Tale of Genji, by Murasaki Shibiku, depending on how you define it), the first science fiction story (probably The Blazing World, by Margaret Cavendish), etc. etc. The first time I tried to chase down the first instance of something happened after reading “The Purloined Letter,” by Edgar Allan Poe. This story is one of the first recognizable detective stories that I know of, published in 1844. Andrew Forrester’s The Female Detective is probably the first collection of stories featuring a woman who works as a professional detective. It was originally published 1863-1864. I’ve been eager to read it since I first spotted a reference to this collection a few months ago...

Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration.

[Georgia Atkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting glimpse into the development of early detective fiction. Written in 1864, roughly twenty years before Sherlock Holmes made his literary debut, The Female Detective is a collection of short stories detailing the exploits of "Miss Gladden," a private detective who assists with police cases.

It took me a little while to get into these stories (some are better than others!), and Forrester's use of logical detection is not always the most convincing - but ultimately I did enjoy reading Miss Gladden's cases. It's neat to see a female Victorian character given such an unusual role in fiction of the era. Some of Miss Gladden's tales are investigative adventures, while others are character studies. Many involve the question of how to balance the rule of law with justice.

Readers should note: some of these stories do contain racist/discriminatory language and attitudes.

[Francisca · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was very comfortable although hardly groundbreaking at a narrative level. at the risk of being slightly spoiler-y, do not expect much in terms of twists and turns regarding each mystery. however, i must say it was a pleasant surprise to find one of the cases inspired by the very same case discussed in The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: A Shocking Murder and the Undoing of a Great Victorian Detective. it almost felt like reading a wripped-from-the-headlines law and order episode.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was incredibly interesting to read a Victorian take on the female detective. I think fans of historical novels will like this a lot, but if you are going into this expecting an early Miss Marple, you will be disappointed. This isn't that kind of novel; a cozy mystery. This is a collection of tales from the career of this Female Detective. The stories don't follow the the normal pattern of more modern detective tales, so don't expect a complete beginning, middle, and end. But if you are interested in a historical take on female detectives and don't mind more open-ended stories, check this one out.

**I received this copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

[Colin Mitchell · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was in the local library during my first visit since lockdown and I mistook it for a whole book in the British Library Series. It was a collection of stories about a female detective, with no name, that was supposedly in the police force a long time before this actually occurred, these stories were originally published in the mid 1800s.

This writing style is of its time and by modern standards disjointed and overstated. Very hard going. The tales themself were often without a conclusion and mostly went unsolved. At least one portrayed the detective as an interfering busybody that became involved for little reason. Interesting but not very enjoyable.

2 stars

[Jeanette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting only due to it's historical significance. I guess. On the whole, I did not care at all for our female detective. The stories were mind numbing and/or ridiculous in nature. And I quickly got tired of the racist comments. One whole story was taken up with explaining that an unknown murder victim and his assailant had to be foreigners because a British person would never had done such and such, lived in such and such place or have certain features etc etc. She made wild assumptions in all the stories and would never have been, plausibly, able to solve a real crime based on the methods used in this book.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first British mystery with a female detective, published in 1864. Just came out this year by Poisoned Pen Press. Not beautifully written but you get used to the style. Two novellas and six short stories. The detective earns some of her money from the new London police force, on the QT and some as a milliner but she seems to have independent means. She avoids identifying herself as a detective, getting her information on the strength of her wits. I don't think I'd recommend you rush out and buy it, but it's nice to know it exists.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

With my love of detective fiction and female protagonists, I’m surprised I didn’t know about this early form of the genre. Found it in Blackwell’s in Oxford and decided I should read it. It’s a series of short stories that were originally published serially. Some of them are better mysteries than others but the description of conversations that the author thought were “normal” is a great shorthand way of connecting us to the past.

[MH · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5 🌟

[Christopher Roden · Rating 3 out of 5]

First published in 1864, this collection of stories from the British Library archive present England's first female detective
While historically interesting, the cases presented are narrations in method, and generally no one is brought to book as a consequence of the investigations.
The language and style is very much mid-Victorian and this is a book very much of its time.

[Brittany (Lady Red) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was tough to get through. It wasn’t that it was badly written, just too loaded with details that distracted from the story.
It was wonderful to see the first female detective regardless, particularly since I’m writing one myself.

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably the first book where a female is the lead detective and actually employed as such. She is portrayed as a very competent detective and even tracks down a mystery herself for in hopes of making some money. The language, typical for its time period, sometimes is distracting in a bad way.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very enjoyable. I particularly liked seeing a male author writing a historical female character acting in an unusual female role. A little bit different.