Seven Impressive Female Sleuths in Classic Mystery Novels Set in the Past

Strong, Witty, and Compassionate: Trailblazing Female Detectives in Historical Fiction

In the realm of historical mysteries, female detectives often don't just unravel criminal puzzles, but also confront societal norms that they were meant to uphold. These tenacious women are not only fighting against adversaries with ill intent, but also against a society that believes a woman's place is confined to the domestic sphere.

When a male protagonist embraces the role of a detective, the conversation often revolves around his personal life rather than his qualifications for the job or the impact his profession may have on his relationships. On the other hand, the female lead is often scrutinized for her domestic duties and marital status.

One author who explores this theme is Shaina Steinberg, whose latest book, An Unquiet Peace, features Evelyn Bishop. In Steinberg's previous work, Under the Paper Moon, Evelyn was inspired by the author's grandmother, who aspired to be a doctor but was thwarted by the belief that it was un-ladylike. Steinberg often wonders what her grandmother's life would have been like had she been free to make her own choices, and how this path might have brought her happiness.

Strong women who defy expectations and follow their passions have always intrigued Steinberg. In An Unquiet Peace, Evelyn is a wealthy society woman who surprises everyone by running her father's company and dabbling in espionage. When a case from her early days with the OSS re-emerges, endangering her and her partner Nick, Evelyn is forced to navigate a web of secrets and deceit from her past.

Female detectives in historical fiction frequently combine intelligence, humor, and empathy to create complex, layered characters. There are notable examples of these remarkable ladies, such as:

Juliet Tilney from Claudia Gray's The Murder of Mr. Wickham. Austen's beloved characters are reimagined in this series, with Henry Tilney and Catherine Morland producing a daughter who shares her parents' intelligence and kindness. Juliet attends a house party with Mr. Jonathan Darcy, where she and her fellow guests become suspects in the mysterious murder of Mr. Wickham—a man who, it should be admitted, likely had it coming.
Verity Kent, introduced in Anna Lee Huber's This Side of Murder. A former spy and codebreaker, Verity is mourning the loss of her husband Sydney, who died during World War One. Invited to a house party with Sydney's old friends, she receives a promising tip about her husband's demise. As secrets from the past begin to unravel, Verity finds herself entangled in a web of mystery that threatens to shatter the peace she's longed for.
Kaveri Murthy from Harini Nagendra's Bangalore Detectives Club. Kaveri married her husband Ramu after an arranged marriage and moved to Bangalore in the 1920s. An intelligent and vivacious woman, she is respected by her husband for her education. After a man is killed in the garden of a country club, Kaveri senses the need to help the man's family. She appeals to the inspector, arguing that women can infiltrate places that men cannot—even the home of a prostitute.
Louise Lloyd from Nekesa Afia's Dead Dead Girls. Louise freed herself and other kidnapped girls ten years earlier. She prefers to leave her dark past behind but is drawn into a new mystery when girls start turning up dead in Harlem. Blackmailed by a detective, she uses her knowledge of the neighborhood to help unravel the case, dealing with personal trauma along the way.
Maisie Dobbs from Jacqueline Winspear's eponymous series. Maisie Dobbs, a woman with impeccable manners, began her life as a servant girl. Her intelligence and thirst for knowledge earned her a scholarship to Oxford, where she worked tirelessly to expose those who exploited veterans. With sharp intellect and keen instincts, Maisie often leaps over obstacles placed in her path.

These women, hailing from various historical contexts, embody resilience, intellect, and determination as they navigate the twists and turns of crime-solving. Their stories serve as embodiments of female empowerment in the realm of detective fiction.

Evelyn Bishop, the protagonist in Shaina Steinberg's book An Unquiet Peace, mirrors the fashion-and-beauty and lifestyle of a high society woman, while also demonstrating intelligence and courage in her detective work. Meanwhile, in Nekesa Afia's Dead Dead Girls, Louise Lloyd, a former kidnapped girl turned detective, leaps over personal obstacles to solve crimes, blurring the lines between books and entertainment.