This is a new feature I developed where each month we will look at our favorite – the best – series in a genre.
The genre here, by my definition, is mystery series with Female main characters. These are some of my favorite long-running series. Since I haven’t read everything, it’s a subset of the possibilities. I’m sure I am forgetting some great authors. There are also plenty of authors I have yet to read. Please share your favorites with me in the comments, also.
My favorite Female Detectives’ Mysteries series are (in no particular order):
Rockton series Deborah Knott series Kinsey Millhone series
by Kelley ARmstrong by Margaret Maron by Sue Grafton
VI Warshawski series Joanna Brady series , Ali Reynolds Sharon McCone series
by Sara Paretsky by JA Jance by Marcia Muller
What are your favorite series?
Vote for your top 3 favorites! You can vote for my favorites or add favorites of your own. Please tell us your top three (or top 1 or 2) in your comments. Remember this is how the winning option is chosen for the giveaway.
Then enter the giveaway below. The winner will get the first book in the winning series! Open to anyone who can receive an Amazon digital ebook.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Hands down my most favorite female detective is Lieutenant Eve Dallas from the In Death series by J. D. Robb. A not close second is Lieutenant Sam Holland from the Fatal series by Marie Force.
Great post, Anne!
Thanks Jonetta. I always appreciate your comments. I also love JD Robb but this category is for straight human, not fantasy. Although the In Death series is hard to categorize – is it UF or scifi? I don’t think I included it in UF because it is more a romance except it is like UF in having an exciting and excellent plot in every book. It really stands on its own.
It’s considered mystery with romantic elements. RWA categorizes it as romantic suspense. Sci fi buffs don’t consider it to be in that category because it only has futuristic elements and, no, it’s not UF as it lacks a paranormal aspect.
Hope this is helpful!
I love Carol O’Connell, that’s a great author for a series I love a lot. Elizabeth Peters too and well a third one? I don’t know. Thanks!
Oh yes there are 3 series by Elizabeth Peters and all are very good. In that view, one could include the Anne Perry mysteries.
Great post, Anne:). My favourite female detectives are Frances Black from the Black and Dods mysteries set in the 1920s by Diane Janes; Kate Shugak a PI set in Alaska by Dana Stabenow; and I’m with you about Kinsey Millhone who features in the Alphabet Murders by Sue Grafton.
Oh I LOVE Kate Shugak – I’ve read them all! I love old English mysteries so I’ll have to check out Black and Dods.
I have so many it’s hard to choose. And right now I can’t pull any of their names out my brain. I went blank! Wait, got a couple. Maggie O’Dell from Alex Kava series. And does Temperance Brennan from Kathy Reich;s series count?
I don’t know the Alex Kava series but I meant this to be series where the female detective is the main character.
Yes the Temperance Brennan series would definitely count. I’ve read them all. It’s a bit disjointing since the books and the tv series are very different.
What a great idea for a feature! I mostly read cozy mysteries and lots of them have female sleuths. From the ones you listed here I read The Lost City, that reminds me I still have to continue that series. I haven’t read the other ones you listed here.
Thanks! I do Series on Saturday on the 2nd Saturday of each month with a different genre. I let people vote and I giveaway the first book in the winning series. I think it’s fun. I define the genre so I can highlight various favorites.