THEMES

For the expansion of our Mystery section "Mystery, Suspense & Thrillers," it seemed appropriate to offer RT's readers a listing of series mysteries we felt had cross-over appeal. We polled readers, booksellers and writers from all over the country and found that our request for "books that would appeal to a female audience" surprisingly weren't all written by women, and don't all feature female heroines. Wonderful suggestions featured books with couples who work together to solve crimes and male heroes that women will definitely go crazy for. Although space doesn't allow us to list all the series this time, watch for the other lists in future issues.

What's The Appeal?

As teenagers, most of us cut our teeth on Nancy Drew, the teenage sleuth. We revered her intelligence, fearlessness and her ability to attract cute boys like Ned. She was fun—and she drove a sporty roadster!

As adults we find the same appeal in the vast array of mysteries that feature an ongoing series with repeat characters. We witness the foibles and antics of favorites like Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone and Linda Barnes's Carlotta Carlyle. They are our friends, we identify with their problems and joys and we are perpetually fascinated with their personal fetishes.

The variety of available mysteries is truly amazing. There really is something for everyone. Some of our faves feature female private investigators as hardboiled as Philip Marlowe, 60-something sleuths who snoop around simply because they're nosy, and oddball characters who just plain make us laugh.

And talk about all colors of the rainbow. Our fave books don't discriminate: they feature short, tall, overweight, old, young, Asian, African-American, Native-American, lesbian and gay characters.

What they all have in common is that they invite us to join their lives for a brief period. Whether gritty, scary, funny or serious, mystery series with on-going characters introduce you to people you love (or in some cases grow to love), just like your own family.

In addition, a fave mystery series allows you to briefly entertain the fantasy that you, the reader, are as clever, enterprising and fearless as the characters that continue to solve who-dunnits despite the bizarre odds.

But best of all is that familiarity is comfort food for mystery fans. Whatever individual quirks the sleuths may have, there is one thing we know we can expect—a good read.

-Kate Ryan

Kate Ryan's FAVORITE SERIES

1) PETER O'DONNELL: MODESTY BLAISE
The best of the best. Often described as a female James Bond, Modesty Blaise is the ultimate female adventurer. A former crimelord gone good, Modesty has some amazing friends and a lot more enemies. Fortunately her sidekick, Willie Garvin, is a master of disguise, and the two escape almost impossible situations. Along the way, Willie breaks an awful lot of ladies' hearts—and is in my opinion the dreamiest uber-male ever written.

2) JOHN DUNNING: CLIFF JANEWAY
A former Denver cop turned rare book dealer, the murders Cliff stumbles onto revolve around the antiquarian book biz. Thrilling and fast-paced, this series is a must read for book-aholics. Most of Dunning's books are as collectible and valuable now as the rare copies he writes about.

3) THOMAS PERRY: JANE WHITEFIELD
Ever on the look-out for any Modesty-like books, I ran across this fabulous series. Jane is half Indian (Seneca) and half Irish and as tough and sensitive as Modesty. Jane makes people disappear. Her clients include petty criminals, unprotected kids and abused wives. While Jane teaches her clients to go undercover she usually unearths a conspiracy which requires her keen intelligence, physical prowess, and mystical propensity. A truly awesome series.

4) LINDA BARNES: CARLOTTA CARLYLE
Another great series with a strong female character. Single and living in Boston, Carlotta is a full-time P.I. and a part-time taxi driver. She parlays her grandmother's folk wisdom, impresses with her six-foot physicality, and manages to get involved in some of the darker and grittier urban crimes. When things get too tough Carlotta finds hope in blues music and her friends, including her wacky roommate Roz whose variety of ever changing hair styles and tight t-shirts are worth the read alone.

5) SPARKLE HAYTER: ROBIN HUDSON
A TV reporter in New York City, Robin is Lucille Ball in Rita Hayworth's body, or so she says. Somehow she always manages to put her foot in her mouth, like when she asks the sole survivor of an airplane crash who had to resort to cannibalism what human flesh tastes like. Despite the zany circumstances, Robin manages to tackle serious issues in every book: feminism, best friends and sex appeal.

6) JANET EVANOVICH: STEPHANIE PLUM
If you like fast and funny books, this is the series for you. Stephanie is a female bounty hunter from New Jersey whose list of priorities is constantly shifting from her big hair, to hunky Joe Morelli, to catching her bounty and staying out of trouble. You never know what kind of muddle Stephanie will end up in next.

7) MARISA PIESMAN: NINA FISCHMAN
What could be better than a middle-aged Jewish real-estate attorney who solves murder cases with her mother? As the two check out fruit at the Fairway supermarket, they discuss all the lurid details of the foul crimes. Nina is the quintessential single New York female who never seems to have a good apartment or can find a worthy boyfriend. A laugh riot! My Mom and I read these together!

8) A.E. MAXWELL: FIDDLER & FIORA FLYNN
Yes, this is the same Ann and Evan Maxwell who write romances. The series really appeals to both men and women, I suspect because they seem to tap into both sexes' socio-biological impulses. For the boys: fast cars and exotic weapons and for the women: the eternal discussion about whether Fiddler and Fiora's relationship will actually make it through all the hell and high water tests imposed on them.

9) MAUREEN TAN: JANE NICHOLS
Here's a hot new series! Jane writes mysteries by day but is really a secret agent by night. Employed by the British MI-5, Jane can be a cold blooded killer, when necessary, which definitely conflicts with her cop boyfriend's warm-blooded ideas about women. Although Jane is English the novels so far have all been set in Savannah.

10) JONATHAN GASH: LOVEJOY
I can't stand the TV series—but the books are something else. Lovejoy is an antique dealer and a scoundrel. He can spot a a fake a mile away, and uses this talent to pass off his own forgeries to the trade. Lovejoy mocks his own lack of ethics since he always gets his comeuppance.

11) CAROLE BERRY: BONNIE INDERMILL
Bonnie dreams of being a tap dancer on Broadway but until she makes it on the great white way, she supplements her income by temping. Unfortunately every boss seems to wind up murdered. It's a good thing Bonnie is better at catching criminals then she is at finding a job. This series is a hoot!

12) JAN BURKE: IRENE KELLY
Irene Kelly is a character anyone can identify with. Despite the fact that she can be a hardboiled reporter (who gets the job done), she has feelings, she's family and friend-oriented, and doesn't take too many unnecessary risks. She's smart and always manages to uncover something fascinating and literary that you just won't find in an average detective mystery. Fun, page turning, intelligent reading always!

Series With Female Protagonists

• THYME OF DEATH Susan Wittig Albert (Berkley)
  China Bayles, Herb shop owner & Former attorney, Pecan Springs, Texas
• AUNT DIMITY'S DEATH Nancy Atherton (Viking Penguin)
  Aunt Dimity, Ghost, England
• A WORLD THE COLOR OF SALT Noreen Ayres (Parrot Audio Books)
  Samantha "Smoky" Brandon, Forensic Expert, Orange County, CA
• MURDER SHE WROTE: MURDER ON THE QE2 Donald Bain aka Jessica Fletcher (Signet)
  Jessica Fletcher, Mystery Writer, London
• COLD CASE Linda Barnes (Dell)
  Carlotta Carlyle, Cab driver/P.I., Boston
• TRACK OF THE CAT Nevada Barr (Avon)
  Anna Pigeon, U.S. Park Ranger, TX
• AGATHA RAISIN AND THE QUICHE OF DEATH M.C. Beaton (St. Martin's)
  Agatha Raisin, Advertising retiree, Cotswolds, England
• A HOPELESS CASE K.K. Beck (Ivy)
  Jane da Silva, Former lounge singer, Seattle, WA
• BIGGIE AND THE POISONED POLITICIAN Nancy Bell (St. Martin's)
  Biggie Weatherford and J.R., Millionaire grandmother, Texas
• DEATH AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE C.C. Benison (Bantam)
  Jane Bee, Housemaid at Buckingham Palace, England
• A TASTE FOR MURDER Claudia Bishop (Berkley)
  Sarah & Meg Quilliam, Inn owner and Chef (sisters), Upstate NY
• DEAD TIME Eleanor Taylor Bland (St. Martin's)
  Marti MacAlister, Police detective, Lincoln Prairie, IL
• ONE FOR THE MONEY D.B. Borton (Berkley)
  Cat Caliban, 60+ P.I.in training, Cincinnati, OH
• WISH YOU WERE HERE Rita Mae Brown (Bantam)
  Mary Minor Haristeen & Sneaky Pie Brown (cat), Crozet, VA
• CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE Edna Buchanan (Avon)
  Britt Montero, Crime Reporter, Miami, FL
• MURDER AT BENT ELBOW Kate Byron (Berkley)
  Maggie Maguire, P.I., San Francisco, 1875
• LIAR Jan Burke (S&S)
  Irene Kelly, Reporter, So. CA
• MISS SEETON SINGS Heron Carvic (Berkley)
  Miss Seeton, retired art teacher, Europe
• THE DESPERATE GAME Jayne Castle (Dell)
  Guinevere Jones, P.I., Seattle, WA
• SLOW DANCING WITH ANGEL OF DEATH Helen Chappell (Fawcett)
  Hollis Ball, Reporter
• DEAD MEN DON'T DANCE Margaret Chittenden (Bantam)
  Charlie Plato, C&W Bar Owner, San Francisco
• THE MURDER AT THE VICARAGE Agatha Christie (Berkeley)
  Miss Jane Marple, spinster, St. Mary Mead, England
• GRIME AND PUNISHMENT Jill Churchill (Avon)
  Jane Jeffry, Suburban single mom, Chicago, IL
• DECKED Carol Higgins Clark (Warner)
  Regan Reilly. P.I., L.A.
• MONKEY WRENCH Liza Cody (Warner)
  Eva Wylie, Wrestler & Security Guard, London, England
• ANIMAL APPETITE Susan Conant (Bantam)
  Holly Winter, Dog trainer, Cambridge, MA
• ONE TWO, WHAT DID DADDY DO? Susan Rogers Cooper (Avon)
  E. J. Pugh, Mother and Romance Writer, Texas
• POSTMORTEM Patricia Cornwell (Pocket)
  Dr. Kay Scarpetta, Chief Medical Examiner, Richmond, VA
• THE TROUBLE WITH A HOT SUMMER Camille Crespi (Harper)
  Simona Griffo, Ad exec., NYC
• THE PUZZLED HEART Amanda Cross (Ballantine)
  Kate Fansler, University Professor, NYC
• SNOW PLACE TO DIE Mary Daheim (Avon)
  Judith McMonigle, B&B Owner, Seattle, WA
• LAY IT ON THE LINE Catherine Dain (Berkley)
  Freddie O'Neal, Plane Flying, P.I., Reno, NV
• HOLY TERROR N THE HEBRIDES Jeanne Dams (HarperCollins)
  Dorothy Martin, Amateur Sleuth, England
• DYING FOR CHOCOLATE Diane Mott Davidson (Bantam)
  Goldy Bear, Caterer, Aspen, CO
• KINDRED CRIMES Janet Dawson (St. Martin's)
  Jeri Howard, P.I., Oakland, CA
• THE STRANGE FILES OF FREMONT JONES Dianne Day (Bantam)
  Fremont Jones. Owner Typewriting service, San Francisco 1900s
• MAMA STALKS THE PAST Nora Deloach (Bantam)
  Candi and Simone Covington (Black), Otis, SC
• MURDER ON CUE Jane Dentinger (Penguin)
  CandiJocelyn O'Roarke, Actress, NYC
• MISS ZUKAS AND THE LIBRARY MURDERS Jo Dereske (Avon)
  Helma Zukas, Librarian (and cat), WA
• NO IMMUNITY Susan Dunlap (Delacorte), Keirnan O'Shaughnessy, Former P.I., Medical Examiner, La Jolla, CA
• GOOD NIGHT, MR. HOLMES Carole Nelson Douglas (Tor)
  Irene Adler Paris, 19th Century sleuth, Bohemia
• CATNAP Carole Nelson Douglas (Tor)
  Temple Barr and Midnight Louie (Cat), PR freelancer, Las Vegas, NV
• ONE FOR THE MONEY Janet Evanovich (S&S)
  Stephanie Plum, Bounty Hunter, Trenton
• DEAD IN THE CELLAR Connie Fedderson (Zebra)
  Amanda Hazard, CPA, Vamoose, OK
• FOOL'S PUZZLE Earlene Fowler (Prime Crime)
  Benni Harper, Folk Art Museum Curator, San Celina, CA
• REFLECTIONS IN THE NILE J. Suzanne Frank (Warner)
  Chloe Kingsley, Artist, Time-Travel, Egypt 1452
• THE MAIDEN'S TALE Margaret Frazer (Prime Crime)
  Sister Frevisse, Nun, Medieval England
• A QUESTION OF GUILT Frances Fyfield (Viking Penguin)
  Helen West, Crown Prosecutor, England
• SHADOWS ON THE MIRROR Frances Fyfield (Pocket)
  Sarah Fortune, Lawyer, England
• THE UNEXPECTED MRS. POLLIFAX Dorothy Gilman (Fawcett)
  Emily Pollifax, Grandmother & CIA Agent, NJ
• THE DEAD PULL HITTER Alison Gordon (McCland)
  Kate Henry Baseball Reporter, Toronto
• A IS FOR ALIBI Sue Grafton (Henry Holt)
  Kinsey Milhone, P.I., Santa Teresa, CA
• RANDOM ACCESS MURDER Linda Grant (Intrigue)
  Catherine Sayler, PI, San Francisco
• SMOKE SCREEN Anne Underwood Grant (Dell)
  Sydney Teague, Ad Agency Owner, Charlotte, NC
• GUILTY PLEASURES Laurell K. Hamilton (Ace)
  Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter
• SHAKESPEARE'S LANDLORD Charlaine Harris (Dell)
  Lilly Baird, librarian turned real estate agent, GA
• DEAD MAN'S ISLAND Carolyn G. Hart (Bantam)
  Henrietta O'Dwyer, 70+ reporter, SC
• HALLOWED MURDER Ellen Hart (Ballantine)
  Jane Lawless, (lesbian)
  restaurateur, MN
• WHAT'S A GIRL GOTTA DO? Sparkle Hayter (Penguin)
  Robin Hudson, TV Reporter, New York
• MALICE IN MAGGODY Joan Hess (Onyx)
  Arly Hanks, Police Chief, Maggody, AK
• A HOLLY JOLLY MURDER Joan Hess (Dutton)
  Claire Malloy, Bookstore Owner, Farberville, AK
• FLASH POINT Lynn S. Hightower (HarperCollins)
  Sonora Blair, Homocide detective, Cincinnati, OH
• MRS. MALORY INVESTIGATES Hazel Holt, (Nal/Dutton)
  Sheila Malory, amateur sleuth, London
• SOMETHING TO KILL FOR Susan Holtzer (Tor)
  Anneke Haagen, computer consultant, Ann Arbor, MI
• TELLING LIES Wendy Hornsby (NAL/Dutton)
  Maggie MacGowan, Investigative filmmaker, CA
• SKELETON CANYON J.A. Jance (Avon)
  Joanna Brady, Sheriff, Cochise County, AZ
• UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY J.A. Jance (Avon)
  J.P. Beaumont, Homicide Detective, Seattle, WA
• KAT SCRATCH FEVER Karen Kijewski (Berkley)
  Kat Colorado, P.I., Sacramento, CA