Move aside Hercule Poirot, Sam Spade, and Sherlock Holmes! These women are here to solve crimes, put away the bad guys, and take their rightful title as Queens of Mystery. See below for a list of a few of our favorite sleuths.

Discover the full and fascinating range of female crime fighters from books—as suggested to MASTERPIECE on PBS by mystery experts.

In compiling this updated version of our female detective list, our definition of “detective” is wide-ranging. We have included books featuring:-amateur sleuths of all types-FBI agents-female police officers-victimized women seeking justice-undercover spell casters-women prosecutors-female hackers

Just like Sara Howard from The Alienist to the esteemed Nancy Drew, there are many female characters that have graced the screen as detectives and cops. Some of which have surpassed their colleagues and shown immense strength in the face of danger.

From dark psychological thrillers—where you’re never sure if the main character is under attack from a form of psychosis or from a serious case of gaslighting—to tough female detectives with challenging backgrounds who take no shit.