Queens of Crime: American and British female detective novels over the course of time

A Study with Specific Reference to American and British Novels

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2012 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,6, Cologne University of Applied Sciences, language: English, abstract: The present study is concerned with the analysis of female detective novels coming from the USA and Great Britain. Firstly, the history of female detective novels and the ideal crime scheme are explained in order to introduce the topic and to give basic information on it. In a second step the characteristics of female detective novels in opposite to male detective novels are highlighted whereas the analysis is focused on lady detectives and female roles, motives and topics and adaption to male manner of speaking. In a last step the appeal of detective novels for women writers is analysed. It was shown that female detective novels are not a separate sub-genre but a separate field within the genre of detective novels. However, women writer gave the genre new impulses helping to develop it.