The best female sleuth mysteries from centuries past

Reading a Lindsey Davis novel is a guilty pleasure. Why? She’s wickedly funny. She brings ancient Rome to vivid life, from the fancy fringe on a tunic hem to the steaming pile of donkey dung in the street. Her sleuth, a tough, no-nonsense woman named Flavia Albia, is assisted (whether she likes it or not) by an extended family of eccentric and sometimes meddlesome characters. I also appreciate how Davis adds just enough historical detail to bring the plot to life without bogging down the action. 

In this book, I particularly enjoyed the interplay between Albia and the officious aedile, Manlius Faustus, who turns out to be nicer (and more interesting) than he first appeared. While each novel is stand-alone, I recommend starting here to get the full backstory.

There are plenty of Sherlock Holmes spinoffs, but this series is the cream of the crop. While Sherlock’s fame may be what draws readers to the book, Mary Russel is the star. She’s every bit as capable as Holmes, and not afraid to disagree with him or ignore his advice. (Although ignoring his advice may not be such a good idea.) Mary’s true love is scholarship, but when she sees injustice, she willingly sets aside her personal wishes and safety to thwart crime and protect the innocent. She is an inspiration to intelligent, independent females who yearn to have their worth acknowledged. 

While each novel is a stand-alone with its own unique charms (and often a unique setting), I recommend starting here and watching their crime-solving partnership unfold.

Amelia Peabody and her family are Egyptologists who attract trouble like treacle draws flies. When a crime occurs, Amelia eagerly wades in to solve it, with the help of her jangling belt of tools which is an amusing parody of a Victorian chatelaine. I appreciate her larger-than-life personality, her enthusiastic outlook, and her delight in arguments (er, energetic discussions) with her husband, Emerson. Amelia and her family are unconventional, and they know it. They’re ahead of their time and actively advocate for better practices in archeology and better treatment of the less powerful—mostly to deaf ears among the officials in power. This novel is a departure from Ms. Peter’s usual setting (Egypt), but I love the title and it remains typical of the series—filled with ancient treasures and sinister secrets.

Who would expect a queen’s lady-in-waiting might be a spy? 

Ursula Blanchard is a genteel but penniless female trying to survive in the cut-throat world of Elizabethan court intrigue. She proves her intelligence and resourcefulness to Queen Elizabeth’s spymaster, who takes her under his protective wing—a two-edged sword, since it means Ursula is often called into dangerous undercover missions. The vivid, impeccably researched backdrop of Elizabethan England adds to the drama and provides fascinating color.   

In addition to her ability to unravel complicated plots, I appreciate how Ursula often faces ethical dilemmas. In this novel, she is forced to choose between saving a friendship and protecting the queen. She also proves certain male “experts” wrong when she cracks a series of coded messages.

I love unusual combinations, like a medieval nun who’s also an experienced sleuth with a sharp tongue and an unflappable demeanor. To Dame Frevisse, murder is an unwanted disruption of the quiet life she craves, yet her nimble brain and passion for justice impel her to get involved. She will keep probing until the truth is found, even if that truth isn’t what others want to hear. 

In this book, Dame Frevisse is asked to investigate the death of a man she despised, which doesn’t help her attitude. One of the things I like best about Dame Frevisse is her rich inner life, as she struggles with not-so-godly attitudes and finds moments of deep peace while practicing what to us may look like dry, tedious, duties.