Happy Wednesday! We’re wrapping up our August theme “The heat is on” this week with one last fiery women topic: Favorite fiery law enforcement protagonist in the mystery world.
The first one who comes to mind for me is Faith McClellan, LynDee Walker’s protagonist in the Faith McClellan Texas Ranger series. Faith is such a badass character – she has integrity, compassion, brains and a burning desire to put the world back to rights. She is one of my fave characters.
Wickeds, what about you? Who’s your favorite female law enforcement protag and why?
Edith/Maddie: I don’t know that she’s particularly fiery, but I’m particularly fond of Gemma James in Deborah Crombie’s long-running British police procedural series. Homicide detective Gemma has evolved over the years, and I love how she manages to do an excellent job at solving murders while also being a busy mother of three AND keeping her relationship strong with husband Duncan Kincaid, a detective superintendent.
Barb: I love Gemma, too, Edith! For this post I’m going with Karen Pirie, Val McDermid’s Edinburgh-based police detective. I read all but the latest on a trip to Scotland in 2022. I just finished Past Lying, a banger of a mystery set during the first UK lockdown in April 2020, a novel within a novel, which takes place in the world of mystery writing/writers. The paperback comes out September 10. The TV series–one season on Britbox, the second being filmed now–is great, too.
Julie: These are all great choices! I don’t read police procedurals as often as I watch them. When I think of fiery law enforcement a number of British procedurals come to mind. At the forefront is Jane Tennison from Prime Suspect.
Sherry: I agree that Faith is a great character, Liz. Tracy Clark’s police woman Harriet Foster is one of my favorites! She’s tough, vulnerable, and someone is out to get her. The third book in her series, Echo, comes out in December. I also like Renee Ballard written by Michael Connelly. And if spies fall into the law enforcement category of I love the women in Mick Herron’s Slough House books. They’re beaten down, have problems, but are tough and smart.
Jessie: I adore Jane Tennison, Julie! I’m going with DS Harbinder Kaur from Elly Griffiths’s novels. I love those novels!
Readers, who are your favorite female law enforcement characters? Add yours in the comments!
The Wickeds 
Like Edith, I don’t think of Gemma James as “fiery”. Although, Edith, your female law enforcement characters qualify as fiery, they aren’t your protagonists. My list of fiery female law enforcement characters are all from British TV via PBS — Annika and Cassie in The Unforgotten (Nicola Walker), DI Ray (Parminder Nagra), and Lisa Donkers (Emma Naomi) and Christina Brand (Juliet Aubrey) of Professor T. Will be tracking down the Other Wicked’s candidates as those are all new to me books.
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I’m thinking Officer Megan Luz from Diane Kelly’s K-9 series.
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My favorite is Bernie Manuelito in the Anne Hillerman books. She is young, pretty, smart, compassionate, and tough as nails when she needs to be. She also helps enlighten people as a role model for Native Americans.
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I am in agreement with Gemma James! I absolutely love her!
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Joanna Brady with author J.A. Jance is a very strong candidate for this position.
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Two favorites, both from authors named Margaret: Margaret Maron’s NYPD detective Sigrid Harald, and Margaret Mizushima’s K-9 handler Deputy Mattie Wray (and Robo, of course).
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Two favorites, both from authors named Margaret: Margaret Maron’s NYPD detective Sigrid Harald, and Margaret Mizushima’s K-9 handler Deputy Mattie Wray (and Robo, of course).
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My favorite fiery female law enforcement character is JD Robb’s Eve Dallas. Also if you look closely, you’ll notice in the first season of Castle, Kate Beckett’s character had Eve’s haircut and total attitude.
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