Pistols and Petticoats: 175 Years of Lady Detectives in Fact and Fiction

“A history of the intrepid women who ventured into male territory to solve crimes. Janik investigates nearly two centuries of policewomen, female detectives, and fictional sleuths in this lively look at women’s adventuresome careers…Janik points out that sleuthing seemed a logical career for unmarried women, in both fact and fiction. Agatha Christie’s clever, observant Miss Marple and Dorothy Sayers’s ‘quick-witted’ Miss Katherine Climpson are two examples, among many others. Women broke through police ranks as well, first taking positions as matrons in police stations and prisons, where they forged connections to social workers…Janik creates vivid portraits of many feisty women, including contemporary TV detectives such as Jessica Fletcher of Murder, She Wrote and Jane Tennison of Prime Suspect. An entertaining history of women’s daring, defiant life choices.” –Kirkus Reviews “A fascinating mix of the history of early policewomen and their role in crime fiction–positions that were then, and, to some extent even now, in conflict with societal expectations.” –Library Journal

“A truly exceptional, inherently fascinating, consistently compelling, informed and informative read, Pistols and Petticoats: 175 Years of Lady Detectives in Fact and Fiction is an impressive and unique work of deftly written history combined with a thoughtful and thought-provoking literary study.” –Midwest Book Review

“Fiction and reality meet and mingle in this fascinating work of cultural history. Who are the great female detectives in literature? Who were their historical precedents? How did they make their way in a predominantly male world, whether we’re talking about the Pinkerton Detective Agency in 1861 or SVU on NBC? The best study of this hugely popular genre that I have ever read.” –William Martin, author of Back Bay and The Lincoln Letter

“Erika Janik does a fine job tracing the history of women in police work while at the same time describing the role of females in crime fiction. The outcome, with a memorable gallery of characters, is a rich look at the ways in which fact and fiction overlap, reflecting the society surrounding them. A treat for fans of the mystery–and who isn’t?” –Katherine Hill Page, Agatha Award-winning author of The Body in the Belfry and The Body in the Snowdrift

“Vivid, engaging, and informative. Erika Janik presents a fascinating gallery of pioneering female crime solvers and the fictional heroines they inspired.” –Daniel Stashower, Edgar Award-winning author of The Hour of Peril and Teller of Tales

Erika Janik is the author of A Short History of Wisconsin and Odd Wisconsin: Amusing, Perplexing, and Unlikely Stories from Wisconsin’s Past. Her work has appeared in Midwest Living, MyMidwest, Wisconsin Trails, the Wisconsin State Journal, the Wisconsin Magazine of History and the Onion. Originally from Redmond, Washington, she now lives in Madison with her husband.

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