They may not all be detectives in the technical sense but these ladies of investigation are among my accepted reading companions, some for decades. So determine in with a cup o’ joe and find a dame you want to spend some time with among these varied and colorful gumshoe girls.
The Chief’s Wife – Earlene Fowler has been writing the Benni Harper series since the early 90′s. When the series opened, Benni was a young widow in Central California ranching country who had the love and help of her quiet father, feisty grandma Dove and the extended family of her best friend, Elvia. She’s the curator of the local folk museum and a quilt crafter and all the books are named for quilt patterns (Goose on the Pond, Irish Chain). The mysteries are often complicated and emotional and more than once have brought up her deceased husband, Jack. But my favorite part of the Benni books is the relationship she weathers with her new husband, Chief of Police Gabe Ortiz. Fowler has created two very human characters with sorrows and distrust to overcome, tempered by deep like and respect. You can always count on Benni and the rest of her ensemble cast, which now includes a step-son and her favorite cousin, Emory, for a solid mystery and a roller coaster ride of emotion.
Sci-Fi/Romance – J.D. Robb, aka romance writer Nora Roberts, delivers intensity and big sex with her complicated Lt. Eve Dallas, New York City cop, in the year 2058. Again, I love the ensemble of characters that include her assistant, Delia Peabody, a modern age child of hippies, her mentor, Feeney, a computer wiz, crazy musician friend, Mavis and Summerset, her nemesis and butler. But the most intriguing relationship (this is where the large sex comes in) is with her husband, Roarke, who owns most of NYC, a lot of the rest of the world and a few places out of this world. They’re well matched, both in background and temperament, and each has serious inner demons. The mysteries here are not always tough to figure out and sometimes what the characters are going through and their inner battles are more interesting than the who-done-it itself. But for me, that’s ok. What draws me back to the “Death In” series are the well-drawn characters, the just-witty-enough banter and the subtle sci-fi details like drying tubes after a shower instead of towels and fully stocked AutoChefs, spewing complete meals ala Star Trek. Oh, and did I mention the mountainous sex?
Tough Chicago Chick – Barbara D’Amato’s Cat Marsala gets herself into memorable pain wherever she goes. A freelance writer, Cat is able to investigate anything newsworthy, as long as she’s home once in a while to feed her parrot, Long John Silver. She has a shortlist of friends and difficult family members and a long list of acquaintances and sources, plus a semi-serious relationship with Dr. Sam Davidian. Clever, fool-heartedly brave and with an unerring sense for a helpful story, Cat always delivers the most unforgettable action scenes I’ve ever read. And these books are extremely well researched because even now, I remember things about the lottery and human bones I probably wouldn’t have gleaned elsewhere. D’Amato’s last Cat book, Hard Road, wove the Wizard of Oz into a family nightmare for Marsala and a harrowing romp through the sewers of Chicago for her eager fans.
Spunky Heroine – Nancy Pickard created a character to root for in Jenny Cain. Being the director of a non-profit organization gives her access to everyone in town, from the downtrodden to the elite, which fuels stories on both sides of the tracks. Jenny’s got a grand sense of humor and isn’t afraid to find herself in hot water to do what’s right. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been a new book in this series in over 10 years, but I remember them with great fondness. They’re definitely a series worth combing libraries and used bookstores for.
African American – Barbara Neely’s Blanche White is a woman overcoming a past that haunts her while taking care of herself and her niece and nephew by taking care of other peoples houses. She’s got personality and opinions to spare and a heart that opens for those who deserve it but suffers no fool gladly. The mysteries in these books are of the emotional variety that usually leave you shaking your head at the way loved ones treat loved ones. There’ve only been four Blanche books but I sure hope Ms. Neely’s got more than that planned.
The Strong Silent One – Charlaine Harris’s Lily Bard moved to Shakespeare, Arkansas, after being brutally raped and left for dead, hoping for a life of anonymity. Lily wants so badly to keep herself closed off to the world but learns that unless you can afford to be a total recluse, people will arrive into your life and keeping your distance doesn’t always work. People get under your skin, into your heart and sometimes need help only you can give. Lily’s struggles with her past and present made me oddly protective of her and hopeful for her future. And the cast of characters surrounding her, especially her equally complicated lover, Jack Leeds, and Bobo, a college boy with a crush on her, are drawn with gargantuan care and detail. Harris has moved on to several other series (one of which featured a cameo by Lily and Jack, which was awesome) but I hope at some point, we gain to see Lily featured in another book (or 10) of her own.
The Real Deal – Marcia Muller’s Sharon McCone feels like an old friend. Her first outing, Edwin of the Iron Shoes, was written in 1977. I probably discovered her in the mid-80′s and I’ve watched her go through boyfriends, jobs and family crisis’s as if I was growing up right alongside her. Sharon started out as the investigator for a legal co-op in San Francisco, eventually struck out on her contain and now has a thriving PI business with multiple operatives. Her mysteries have run the gamut from very personal to international but no matter how big or small, they’re always well thought out and never take second place to Sharon’s private life, which has always been entangled with friends, family and lovers. I don’t remember exactly when Hy Ripinsky came on the scene but Sharon hasn’t been the same since. Hy was at one time working for the government in foreign lands… Now he’s part owner of a company that brokers hostage negotiations. They have a unique relationship that gives them plenty of independence without compromising their love. These stories seem more “grown up” to me than the others listed here, probably because Sharon is the only actual Detective (in the precise world – somehow J.D. Robb’s sexy sci-fi Eve Dallas doesn’t quite count) and she gets gritty and hurt and never compromises. But as much of a grown-up as she is, she still has her soft side. Her cats, Ralph and Alice, are always high on her list of priorities and we get to see not only her tender side but quite often her frustration with her family and friends. I love Sharon because she’s so well rounded, dedicated to the job and oh so human.
One general recommendation: If you’re going to read these ladies, get the books in order. It’s worth it to appreciate the character development and in some cases, the earlier stories are referenced in subsequent books.
