She talked as if she had taken on the mantle of Philip Marlowe, a female arch sleuth for whom the teeming underworld held no secrets.

Now, with the publication of Ms. Schulman's novel, we've been presented with, at last, a female sleuth who certainly appears to be in her sexual prime.

Warner Bros. also created the Torchy Blane films which were notable for featuring one of the few female sleuths in a series.

A little known Collins novel based on a true court case and allegedly introducing the first female sleuth.

Of course back then there were female sleuths who used their brains not guns or fists to solve murders, but they generally didn't have professions.

The female sleuths are smart, feisty and independent; their male counterparts are attractive, sensitive and caring.

The principal character is a strong female Dutch sleuth who solves mysteries in exotic locales.

Kuijpers' Franka comics work features a strong model-like female sleuth solving mysteries, often in exotic locales.

Where are the secrecy and solemnity that generally define a female sleuth?

One female sleuth, no female authors.