Looking for series with female detectives

[Tawnee]

Hey there. So I'm a big fan of the Rizzoli & Isles series by Tess Gerritsen. The problem I have is I want to find more series with awesome female detectives, but I don't know where to start or even look. Can you please recommend the best series with female leads? Thanks! :)

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Tawnee wrote: "Hey there. So I'm a big fan of the Rizzoli & Isles series by Tess Gerritsen. The problem I have is I want to find more series with awesome female detectives, but I don't know where to start or even..."

I don't know if you're into foreign crime, but you might like Helene Tursten's series featuring Detective Inspector Irene Huss.

[David]

Alafair Burke's Ellie Hatcher series set in present day NYC.
Ditto for Richard Castle's Nikki Heat series.
Deborah Crombie's books feature a male/female police duo in London.
Jeffrey Deaver's Kathryn Dance series stars an investigator with the California Bureau of Investigation.
Later books in Nelson DeMille's John Corey series include his wife, an FBI agent.
Leslie Glass's April Woo series is about a Chinese-American police detective in NYC.
Linda Greenlaw has a series featuring an ex-cop/marine insurance investigator set in Maine.
J. A. Jance's Johanna Brady series is about a female sheriff in AZ.
Margaret Maron's Sigrid Herald series stars a female NYPD detective.
Toby Neal writes a series about a detective in HI.
Carol O'Connell's Kathleen Mallory series is about a female NYPD detective.
T. Jefferson Parker's Merci Reyborn series is about a sheriff's deputy in CA.
Stuart Woods's Holly Barker series is about a police chief in FL who later becomes a CIA operative.

Hope this helps.

[N]

Linda La Plante, Alex Kava (FBI not police) Linda Fairstein, Tami Hoag does greatbstand alones as does Lisa Gardiner, Janet Evanovich's books are about a bounty hunter so are a fun thriller, Steig Larsson trilogy, James Patterson (1st to die, 2nd chance etc) thats all for now.... lol

[Bill]

You might like to try Michelle Spring's Laura Principal series. They are excellent, female PI stories, set in England.. Every Breath You Take is one of them..

[Jan C]

Dave wrote: "Alafair Burke's Ellie Hatcher series set in present day NYC.
Ditto for Richard Castle's Nikki Heat series.
Deborah Crombie's books feature a male/female police duo in London.
Jeffrey Deaver's Kat..."

Didn't know Linda Greenlaw had a series. I'm still on her fishing books.

[Paul]

There are a couple of UK based ones. Val McDermid's Kate Branigan series is excellent (as you'd expect from her), as is the short series from Sarah Dunant featuring Hannah Wolfe.

[Donna, Co-Moderator]

Cara Black Aimee Leduc series set in Paris, Dana Stabenow Kate Shurgark series in Alaska, and Kerry Greenwood Phryne Fisher historical mysteries set in Melbourne Australia.

[Tawnee]

Thanks for all these recommendations! I'm excited now. :)

[Georgia]

Dave, you made an impressive list for all of us. Thanks, I would like to add two that I really enjoy. Aimee Leduc, written by Cara Black. The mysteries all take place in Paris. Also Maisie Dobbs is one of my favorites written by Jacqueline Windspear, pertaining to the period between WW1. and WWII.

[Melissa]

Tawnee wrote: "Hey there. So I'm a big fan of the Rizzoli & Isles series by Tess Gerritsen. The problem I have is I want to find more series with awesome female detectives, but I don't know where to start or even..."

I highly recommend these three as they're way outside the standard formula:

Zoe Sharp's Charlotte Fox


Seeley James's Pia Sabel



Kelly Thompson's

[David]

Georgia wrote: "Dave, you made an impressive list for all of us. Thanks, I would like to add two that I really enjoy. Aimee Leduc, written by Cara Black. The mysteries all take place in Paris. Also Maisie Do..."

Thanks for the compliment.

Tawnee: Those were just the police detective ones in my book list. Are you open to private eyes and amateur detectives, too?

[Cathy]

Dave wrote: "Alafair Burke's Ellie Hatcher series set in present day NYC.
Ditto for Richard Castle's Nikki Heat series.
Deborah Crombie's books feature a male/female police duo in London.
Jeffrey Deaver's Kat..."

Great list, Dave. Thanks.

[Stephanie]

J.d. robb in death series is great also.

[Nancy]

Sabena Stone writes a great series about female detective Rachel Christie. I've read several and have the others on my to read list.

[K.A.]

How about Nevada Barr's Anna Pigeon series? She's a park ranger, not a detective, but does a lot of detecting. The first one, 'Track of the Cat', was probably the best, followed by 'Firestorm' - in my opinion, of course.

Track of the Cat
Firestorm

[Simon]

I enjoyed the Sydney Rye series by Emily Kimelman. The heroine is feisty, fearless and smart. She inadvertently falls into the detective business in the first book Unleashed.

[Nancy]

Zoe Sharp's Charlie Fox:
JD Robb's In Death:
Cody McFadyen's Smokey Barrett:
Linda Castillo's Kate Burkholder:
JA konrath's Jack Daniels:
All these are great!

[Bill]

A couple of others also came to mind the other day, not strictly Private Detectives, but both ladies investigate crime; Jan Burke's Irene Kelly books and Karin Slaughter's Grant County series.. Oh and you might like Charlaine Harris who has three different series featuring women investigators.. Lily Bard, Aurora Teagarden and Harper Connelly, all pretty good.

[Cathy]

Bill wrote: "A couple of others also came to mind the other day, not strictly Private Detectives, but both ladies investigate crime; Jan Burke's Irene Kelly books and Karin Slaughter's Grant County series.. Oh ..."

Bill:

I am rather annoyed with Charlaine Harris at this time. I loved all three of those women; Aurora (Roe) who was "well off" due to an inheritance; Harper who saw the dead and Lily, can't recall what she did for a living, a librarian, maybe?

The point though: When Harris 'struck gold' with Sookie Stackhouse (True Blood) these characters were abandoned. Six, maybe seven books in each series and they were sooo good; the characters, the plot, Harris' clear writing. Such a shame. I don't read vampire or romance so I'm left in the cold by Harris.

Sorry for the whining. I loved all these great characters who are definitely worth mentioning here and reading.

[Jan C]

I liked the Lily books. Too bad she only did 4 of them. She cleaned houses, I believe.

[Cathy]

Jan C wrote: "I liked the Lily books. Too bad she only did 4 of them. She cleaned houses, I believe."

Thanks, Jan. Yes, you're right...I wouldn't have remembered that at all without going back to the book. Only four...I enjoyed them, too.

[C.E.]

My Claire Rawlings mysteries are being reissued soon. The POV character is a book editor, and her "ward" is the detective, a twelve year old prodigy. They are cozies, Who Killed Blanche Dubois? and its sequels.

[Bill]

Cathy wrote: "Bill wrote: "A couple of others also came to mind the other day, not strictly Private Detectives, but both ladies investigate crime; Jan Burke's Irene Kelly books and Karin Slaughter's Grant County..."

I agree, Cathy. I quite liked Lily Bard and felt that that particular story line could have been developed much longer. I also just started the Harper Connelly books and have really enjoyed so far and was disappointed when I found out there were only 6 or so books in that series.

[Cathy]

Bill wrote: "Cathy wrote: "Bill wrote: "A couple of others also came to mind the other day, not strictly Private Detectives, but both ladies investigate crime; Jan Burke's Irene Kelly books and Karin Slaughter'..."

Bill: I devoured all of them, one after the other. My favorite bookseller, Vanessa, suggested I try the first Sookie and I did; however, although I like Harris' writing, I just don't like that genre.

Maybe I, too, would go for the brass ring...making money, but what a disappointment (like you said) for us, the readers.

Roe Teagarden, possibly, ran out of steam but think there was (and is) more for Lily Bard and Harper Connelly if Harris wanted to continue. They were a bit more complicated than Roe.

But what fun I had reading them. I'm envious of you having some you haven't read!

[Poornima]

You could also try Leslie Cookman - she has a series of cozy mysteries with two female protogonists!

[Donna, Co-Moderator]

If you like something with a historical setting, I recently read Still Life With Murder set in post Civil War New York City. Nell Sweeney, governess in the household, gets involved with a family mystery. I liked the setting and the characters were quite believable.

[Ken]

Okay, here's one that's different...

Thursday Next is the detective in Jasper Fforde's series. She's more than that. She's a literary detective, and has to enter the text of a novel in order to place things back in order, because the future gets tampered with if influential literature is screwed with. The first in the series was THE EYRE AFFAIR, in which Thursday has to fix JANE EYRE.

[K.A.]

That sounds unique.

[Marja]

The Sandi Webster mysteries feature a female P.I., but they're not hard-boiled. I guess you'd say they're soft-boiled, a little humor and a little drama. Just thought I'd mention it.

[Cathy]

Marja wrote: "The Sandi Webster mysteries feature a female P.I., but they're not hard-boiled. I guess you'd say they're soft-boiled, a little humor and a little drama. Just thought I'd mention it.
[bookcover:Old..."

Funny..."soft-boiled." Like eggs, huh? Humor is good, a little drama makes it better. :D Smiling at your humor, Marja!

[Marja]

Cathy wrote: "Marja wrote: "The Sandi Webster mysteries feature a female P.I., but they're not hard-boiled. I guess you'd say they're soft-boiled, a little humor and a little drama. Just thought I'd mention it.
..."

LOL Thanks, Cathy. Eggs? Maybe I have egg on my face and I just don't know it.

[Cathy]

Marja wrote: "Cathy wrote: "Marja wrote: "The Sandi Webster mysteries feature a female P.I., but they're not hard-boiled. I guess you'd say they're soft-boiled, a little humor and a little drama. Just thought I'..."

No...you're well...no eggs on your face, friend. You're just good fun!

[Marja]

Cathy wrote: "Marja wrote: "Cathy wrote: "Marja wrote: "The Sandi Webster mysteries feature a female P.I., but they're not hard-boiled. I guess you'd say they're soft-boiled, a little humor and a little drama. J..."

Well, that's a great compliment. Thanks!

[[deleted user]]

Hi there, if you're still on the lookout for a series with a female detective then you should check out this: http://www.amazon.com/Wayward-Husband... (US link) - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wayward-Husba... (UK link)

The Victorian detective Hester Lynton and her sharp-minded assistant Ivy Jessop are back for another series of dazzling adventures.

In her latest baffling case, a complex and unusual tale involving a certain Mrs Bramming leads Hester and Ivy into the most dangerous case of their career.

Meanwhile, when a famous writer loses a valuable manuscript, and enlists Hester's help to find it, an eminent doctor appears to be involved in the inexplicable events.

But how?

And why?

Some mysteries are baffling even to Victorian London's greatest detective.

Join Hester and Ivy as they travel throughout the country chasing adventure and solving mysteries. This casebook promises twists and turns with a pair of lady sleuths with sharp wits and Holmesian intelligence.

If you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes then you should also enjoy this. Currently on a 99p/99c promotion so grab it while you can. and hope you enjoy reading it!!

[Garrett]

More a thriller series, than a criminal procedural, but I think you'll find it has what you are looking for. We have a very strong female lead and several talented female supporting characters. Take a look at our new book,


Rabbit Hole

If you're a member of the Time Travel Group, we have a giveaway going on right now. Ends 8/31/2013.

[Nikita]

Lisa Gardner's D.D. Warren series features a strong female detective and head-scratching crimes.

[Carolien]

These are all PI's, but they are still some of my favourite American female characters:
VI Warshawski by Paretsky Sara
Kinsey Millhone by Sue Grafton
Sharon McCone by Marcia Muller
Sunny Randall by Robert B Parker

British police detective Vera Stanhope by Ann Cleeves is another one

[David]

If your look for female PIs or amateur detectives:
Lori Armstrong writes a series featuring an ex-soldier in South Dakota.
David Baldacci’s King & Maxwell series has a former Secret Service agent working as a PI.
Linda Barnes Carlotta Carlyle series stars an ex-cop/part-time cabdriver/PI.
Rhys Bowen’s Molly Murphy series is about a female private eye in turn of the century New York.
Edna Buchanan’s Brit Montero series stars a police beat reporter in Miami, FL.
Dana Cameron writes a series about an archeologist.
Jill Churchill writes two series (one in Chicago, the other in upstate NY) starring amateur sleuths.
Marcia Clark’s Rachel Knight series stars a Deputy District Attorney in LA.
Beverly Conner writes two series, one featuring a forensic archeologist the other a forensic anthropologist.
Pat Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta is a medical examiner.
Cleo Coyle’s ‘Coffeehouse Mysteries’ star a coffee shop owner in NYC.
Dianne Mott Davidson’s series feature a caterer in Colorado.
Sarah Graves writes a series about a woman restoring an old home in Maine.
Kathryn Miller Hayines writes a series about an actress in WWII NYC.
Iris Johansen’s Eve Duncan series is about a forensic sculptor.
Christine Kling writes a series about a tugboat captain in Florida.
Dennis Lehane’s Kenzie & Gennaro series, set in Boston, co-stars a PI.
Sophie Littlefield writes a series featuring a sewing shop owner in Missosuri.
Lisa Lutz’s Izzy Spellman works for her family’s PI firm in San Francisco.
Margaret Maron’s Deborah Knott series features a district judge in North Carolina.
Nancy Martin writes two series featuring amateur sleuths, one in Pittsburgh, the other in Philadelphia.
Michele Martinez has a 4 book series starring a federal prosecutor in NYC.
Thomas Perry’s Jane Whitfield is a Native American who helps people vanish.
Kathy Reichs writes the Temperance Brennan series about a forensic anthropologist.
Hank Phillipi Ryan writes 2 series, one about a TV investigative reporter, the other about a disgraced newspaper reporter, both set in Boston.
Lisa Scottoline writes both a series about lawyers in an all-female law firm and stand-alone books, some of which feature a lawyer.
Julia Spencer-Fleming writes a series co-starring an Episcopal priest in upstate NY.
Victoria Thompson’s Gaslight series features a mid-wife in turn of the century NYC.
Stephen White’s Alan Gregory series has some books featuring his wife, a lawyer in Boulder, CO.

[Carolien]

Dave wrote: "If your look for female PIs or amateur detectives:
Lori Armstrong writes a series featuring an ex-soldier in South Dakota.
David Baldacci’s King & Maxwell series has a former Secret Service agent w..."

This is a fantastic list. I'm printing both your lists to take to the library this week.

[L.L.]

Ken wrote: "Okay, here's one that's different...
Thursday Next is the detective in Jasper Fforde's series.

Fforde is one of my favorite authors. The Thursday Next books are just delightful. I have the latest one, The Woman Who Died a Lot, on my desk and look forward to reading it this week. I'll report back, but I can say with confidence that it's going to be a really good read.

[Carmen]

@L.L.:

Oh you are so right about Thursday! Her stories and exploits are so different than anything else that I've read. It's a joy to read.

You really have to use your brain power to read Thursday Next!!

[Gary]

I like books in this area, especially those that include both principal male and female characters. While I am an American, I only read books set out side the US. Of those that have been mentioned, I really like the Deborah Crombie books. The books by Helene Tursten (Sweden) are also good but only about half have been translated into English. There was also a Swedish TV series on these books with subtitles we enjoyed watching. Another Swedish series which we watched on TV is Liza Marklund, whose character Annika Bengtzon is a reporter. (I am going to use this format author followed by character for the rest of this comment.)

Yet another Swedish series is Kjell Eriksson, Ann Lindell a detective but only about half translated.

Some other series set in the UK are: Barry Maitland, Kathy Kola and David Brock. Older male and younger female detectives who are not a couple. One of my favorites.

Martin Edwards, Lake District Mysteries DCI Hannah Scarlett and historian Daniel Kind. Really good. I am looking forward to the next one.

Stephen Booth, Ben Cooper and Diane Fry both detectives who so far in the series have had a mostly adversarial relationship (especially on her part). Set in Derbyshire.

I have also enjoyed Elly Griffiths, Ruth Galloway a forensic anthropologist set on the coast in Norfolk.

Finally, I have to mention Jassy Mackenzie's books which are set in South Africa and feature Jade de Jong who does personal security but manages to get into a lot of other trouble.

[[deleted user]]

I'm also a big fan of Elly Griffith's' Ruth Galloway series. I am anxiously awaiting the next installment.

[Rhonda]

I like Sue Grafton's "A is for Alibi" series. Each book in the series features a female P. I. named Kinsey Millhone. She seems to get into some sort of mischief in each book.

[Simon]

I also enjoyed Annie Ogden from Doing Max Vinyl - she is a strong and self-sufficient character who will stop at nothing to see justice prevail. All of the supporting characters are interesting and complex and a real strength of this book.

[Barbara]

Rhonda wrote: "I like Sue Grafton's "A is for Alibi" series. Each book in the series features a female P. I. named Kinsey Millhone. She seems to get into some sort of mischief in each book."

I like the Kinsey Milhone series also. Kinsey doesn't take any crap from anybody :)

[Gary]

Mike wrote: "S.J. Bolton's, Lacey Flint series is excellent.

I just read the 3rd book in this series: Lost (Like This for Ever in the UK). It is excellent. There is also a novella which takes place between the first and second books. Lacey is a DC based in London who has more personal issues than any other female detective I have encountered so far.

[Lisa]

If you don't mind a man being thrown into the mix, David Baldacci has a series of novels featuring the male/female pairing of Detectives King and Maxell. The team are ex-secret service agents and the books they are featured in are very entertaining. I just read somewhere that a tv series on TNT based on these Baldacci characters debuted in June.

I'm crazy about Baldacci's writing and I've read every one of the King/Maxwell novels - the first one that popped into my mind is "First Family" - but I would not hesitate to recommend any one of them.

[Ruth]

The show is good