| 1) Anna Lee - by Liza Cody Anna quit the cops and joined a private firm in London, where the secretary gives her grief and her boss hands her the same “female” assignments (burglar alarm sales) she quit the cops to get away from but she’s taken under the wing of Bernie, the agencies best op. and becomes a capable PI in her own right. Bright, tougher than she looks and sounds; I’m proud to say I was reading her long before the A&E TV series (the show being a whole other story). 1a) Eva Wylie - a female wrestler, Eva is Anna’s project/ protégé. Streetwise, a bit crude, Eva aspires to better things but ends up returning to her dogs and the trailer home that fronts the lot she’s hired to guard. |
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2) Tess Monaghan - by Laura Lippman Tess took her first case when a rowing friend of hers (rowing is how she keeps in shape) came to her because knowing she was looking for something to do while looking for another newspaper job. A down to earth, believable character, whose extensive knowledge of Baltimore makes the city come alive to the reader. Tess combines this with her reporter’s curiosity to solve the cases brought to her. |
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| 3) Casey Jones - by Katie Munger Casey’s the type of woman you want your girl friend to be more like. She laughs with you not at you. Works hard, plays hard, Casey does the legwork for a little firm. She takes her cases and clients seriously but not life. Casey has a quicker wit and a “smarter” mouth than a few male PI’s. |
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| 4) Angela Gennaro - by Dennis Lehane Don’t even try. If she wants you you’ll know it. Most guys have already read Lehane and thoroughly enjoyed them. As a change of pace, I’m going to try to read the next one from Angie's perspective. I know the quality of the writing won’t change. 4a) Angie might have taken some tips from Carlotta Carlisle - by Linda Barnes. My friend’s dad calls Carlotta the sexiest working PI out there. They’ve both got that blue-collar background that highlights their (beyond the mere physical) beauty. |
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| 5) Sam Jones- by Lauren Henderson Late twenties. Hip, trendy, sculptress. Sam doesn’t turn down much. Doesn’t the title Black Rubber Dress intrigue you enough to give her a try? Sam’s a Tart Noir character. Tart Noir being a loose group of female authors whose characters are just as tough, adventurous and funny as the male PI’s they’re “competing” with. Sam’s newest adventure (Chained) finds her waking up a kidnap victim. |
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| 6) Robin Hudson - by Sparkle Hayter A New Yorker with the New Yorker mind set, drive and (I’d say balls but she’s a woman, so) the moxy to pull it off ; Robin is a TV news show producer. Her cases, such as they are, often fall into her lap from stories she’s working on. Robin’s running commentary on modern times and more makes this a witty series. When I need a change of pace from the workaday serial killer shoot’em up, hardboiled PI novel I pick up Robin Hudson. |
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| 7) Rachel Gold - by Michael Kahn Rachel likes the Cardinals. I’m not a big Cards fan since they beat the Brewers in their only World Series appearance, but I love baseball and so have a fondness for Rachel that way. A lawyer, who leaves a big Chicago firm to return home to St. Louis Rachel is A very realistically drawn character, her cases come as a result of her legal practice. This is a good underrated series. |
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| 8)Iris Thorne- by Diane Pugh Sells. She’s a money person, an investment counselor but not to where it dominates her life. More than anyone else in her firm she cares for the little guy and that’s what gets her her “cases.” Another underrated series, I don’t know why. Fix her Triumph for her and she’ll love you for it. |
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| 9) Cassidy Sanderson - by April Smith Cass scouts for the Dodgers, her mentor finds her a kid that can’t miss. Complications arise, big money gets involved and it’s up to Cass to protect her interests via protecting the “kid.” This is a well-done mystery with a baseball background, but it stays in the background (for those of you who don’t like the sport). 9a) Ana Grey- in April Smith’s North of Montana. |
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| 10) Meg Gillis - by C J Songer. Of all the characters above Meg Gillis probably works the closest with the police. This makes for a different turn than your usual PI novel. More action oriented than the others as well, Meg gets in over her head as often as anyone else does but she’s smart enough to have the back up to help get her out (not that she couldn’t go it alone if she had to.) Meg’s headstrong, but working on it. |
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