To mark International Women’s Day I thought I’d get into list-making mode. I’m a big fan of strong female protagonists, especially in crime fiction – feisty old (and maybe not so old) birds with a mystery to solve or justice to uphold or revenge to wreak.

There are quite a few of these heroines out there, but there could certainly be more. Which might explain why I feel compelled to invent some myself.

These lists are in no way exhaustive, so please feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments section if you think I’ve missed anyone out.

Before the list of heroines, I’d just like to doff my cap to women crime writers too:

Women crime writers (in no particular order)Kate Atkinson, author

Kate Atkinson
Agatha Christie
Patricia Highsmith
MC Beaton
Janet Evanovitch
Camilla Lackberg
Sophie Hannah
Zoe Sharp
Julie Corbin
Belinda Bauer
Susan Hill
Val McDermid
Denise Mina
REggie Nadelson
PD James
Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine
Karen Campbell
Elly Griffiths
Erin Kelly
Ruth Newman
Dreda Say Mitchell
Julia Crouch
Caro Ramsay
Sara Paretsky
Kathy Reichs
Gillian Flynn
Sue Grafton
Patricia Cornwell
NJ Cooper
Mo Hayder
Martina Cole
Minette Walters
Laura Wilson
Steph Penney
Marjorie Allingham
Ann Cleeves
Alex Gray
Elizabeth Haynes
Cath Staincliffe
Tess Gerritson
Frances Fyfield
Laura Lippman
Barbara Nadel
Donna Leon
Maj Sjowall
Josephine Tey
SJ Rozan
Dorothy L Sayers

Women protagonists in crime fiction and drama (similarly random ordering)
Jane Tennyson
Christine Cagney Cagney and Lacey
Mary Beth Lacey
Louise Monroe
Carol Jordan
Charlie Zailer
Alex Morrow
Janet Scott
Rachel Bailey
Maura Isles
Jane Rizzoli
Charlie Fox
Ruth Galloway
Luisa Rey
Jenny Cooper
Vera Stanhope
Sam Murray
Clarice Starling
Sarah Lund
Sarah Linden
Tess Monaghan
Stephanie Plum
Precious Ramotswe
VI Warshawski
Hetty Wainthrope
Jane Marple


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