Our Leading Ladies…
As a lifelong fan of crime fiction, I’ve followed the twists and turns of countless investigations led by sharp-witted detectives. I’m in fictional love with Windsor Horne Lockwood III and his side kick Myron Bolitar (I mean who wouldn’t be), Alex Cross and Harry Bosch but my favourite detectives lately are our fabulous females characters. For me as a reader, these leading ladies bring a refreshing perspective to the genre, showcasing intellect, keen observational skills, and tenacity. The stories often blend traditional detective work with unique personal insights, creating multifaceted, dynamic characters that enrich the storyline.
Here are some of my must-reads featuring fearless, sharp-minded female leads who will captivate you to the very last page:
Evie Cormac by Michael Robotham
Evie Cormac is a girl without a past. She was discovered as a child, filthy and half-starved, hiding in a secret room in the aftermath of a shocking crime. Now a young adult, Evie is damaged, self-destructive and has never revealed the full details of her past because the memories are locked away, inside her head.
Kate Miles by Dinuka McKenzie
Kate Miles is a determined, but very human, police detective. Kate’s struggles are recognisable to many women; dealing with the physical and emotional demands of motherhood combined with a career.
Frankie Elkin by Lisa Gardner
Frankie Elkin is an average middle-aged woman, a recovering alcoholis with more regrets than belongings. But she spends her life doing what no one else will – searching for missing people the world has stopped looking for.
Lexi Winter Sarah Barrie
Lexi Winters childhood was destroyed by a murderous pedophile. Growing up rough, Lexi became a talented hacker and vigilante, who targets suspected child abusers.
Renee Ballard by Michael Connolly
Renée Ballard is an LAPD detective who works the night shift, called “the late show,” out of the Hollywood Station. She was raised on the island of Maui where she learned to surf from her father, an accomplished competitive surfer. When she was in high school her father drowned while surfing. At about the same time her mother, Makani, abandoned her, leaving her homeless for about a year until her grandmother, Tutu, took custody of her.
And of course any of The Women’s Murder Club by James Patterson
Women’s Murder Club is a series of mystery novels, set in San Francisco. Lindsay Boxer, Cindy Thomas, Claire Washburn and Jill Bernhardt are the founding members, together they solces crimes, and often meet up to talk about clues and life over Mexican food and drinks.
Find these leading ladies on BorrowBox and on shelf throughout Western Downs Libraries
Exclusive to Hoopla I have found my favourite female detective in Ingrid Skyberg – by Eva Hudson.
Meet Ingrid Skyberg, one of the toughest Special Agents ever to come out of Quantico. She’s tenacious, resourceful, virtually indestructibly and just a little bit out of control. Assigned to the Us embassy in London, Ingrid is on the case when American citizen gets into trouble…or winds up dead…or is accused of a crime they didn’t commit. Whether she needs to wear combat fatigues or a cocktail dress, Ingrid Skyberg always gets the job done.