09 - Female Detective by Andrew Forrester

Uncover the intrigue of the 1864 collection of stories Female Detective. Crafted by James Redding Ware, writing under the pseudonym Andrew Forrester, the book is a pioneering example of detective fiction featuring a female protagonist. The author skillfully poses as the editor of these so-called “memoirs” of an anonymous detective. Her identity is a mystery, with the introduction opening simply with, “Who am I? It can matter little who I am.” The motive behind this book is to validate and dignify her profession, which she believes is undeservedly scorned. The narrative is interspersed with her reflections on the art of detective work. Delve into the world of seven captivating London-based stories, where our detective meticulously unravels mysteries that span from baffling deaths, unearthing the origins of a bag of body parts, to determining whether a death was even a murder. Embark on this riveting journey through the pages of early detective fiction! - Summary by Verla Viera