List of Female Detective Characters - A

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  • Abigail Adams, future first lady, detects in Massachusetts in the 1770s, in a book series commencing 2009 by Barbara Hambly writing as Barbara Hamilton
  • Hilda Adams is a nurse who takes jobs to assist detectives with their investigations in books by Mary Roberts Rinehart commencing with ‘’The Buckled Bag’’ (1914). In 1932, Joan Blondell starred as Hilda in a Warner Brothers film, Miss Pinkerton, based on one of the books, and Rinehart subsequently adopted this nickname for her character.
  • Samantha Adams is an investigative reporter in Atlanta debuted 1988 in a book series by Sarah Shankman, first two books published under pseudonym 'Alice Storey'.
  • Laura Ackroyd is an investigative reporter who solves crimes with her boyfriend DCI Michael Thackery in novels set in West Yorkshire by Patricia Hall (Maureen O’Connor) commenced 1994.
  • Irene Adler is an opera singer in the short story "A Scandal in Bohemia" by Arthur Conan Doyle (debuted 1891); later appeared as a Pinkerton detective in a series of books by American crime novelist Carole Nelson Douglas (debuted 1990). Played by Charlotte Rampling in the 1976 film Sherlock Holmes in New York; by Anne Baxter in the 1984 television movie The Masks of Death; by Gayle Hunnicutt in the 1984 pilot episode of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes; by Morgan Fairchild in the 1992 television movie Sherlock Holmes and the Leading Lady; by Rachel McAdams in Sherlock Holmes; and by Lara Pulver in an episode of the TV series Sherlock.
  • Sister Agatha is an investigative reporter and journalism professor turned nun, debuted in 2002 in a series set in New Mexico by Aimee & David Thurlo.
  • Adelia Aguilar is a medieval forensic specialist in a series of books 2006) - 2010 by British crime writer "Ariana Franklin" (Diana Norman 1933-2011).
  • Louisa May Alcott, not yet a famous writer, takes to sleuthing in a book series commenced 2004 by 'Anna Maclean' (Jeanne Mackin).
  • Sally Alder ('Mustang Sally') is a former singer and history professor at the University of Wyoming at Laramie, debuted 2000 in a series by Virginia Swift.
  • Claire Aldington is an Episcopal priest and psychologist in New York in five books 1984-1990 by Isabelle Holland (1920-2002).
  • Finny Aletter is a stockbroker in two books 1987 and 1990 by Yvonne Montgomery.
  • Nikki Alexander is a forensic anthropologist/forensic pathologist in a BBC thriller series Silent Witness by Nigel McCrery (debuted 1996); played by Emilia Fox from 2004-present.
  • Jaime Allen is a patrolwoman whose shady past and skill at deception lead to her being recruited to an undercover police team in the 2009-2010 TNT television series Dark Blue.
  • Becky Altringer is a private investigator who exposed the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. in This Film Is Not Yet Rated.
  • Angela Amalfi is a food critic debuted 1993 in a culinary mystery series by Joanne Pence.
  • Cherry Ames is a nurse and investigator in 27 mystery novels published 1943-1968, some were written by Helen Wells and some by Julie Campbell Tatham. The nurse theme was inspired by the war.
  • Anaya is an Asari detective in Nos Astra on the planet Illium in the video game Mass Effect 2.
  • Leanne "Pepper" Anderson is a police detective played by Angie Dickinson on the 1974-1978 NBC series Police Woman.
  • Angela Anderson is an FBI agent played by Abigail Spencer on the 2006 Lifetime TV series Angela's Eyes.
  • Mici Anhalt is an investigator for the NYC Crime Victims Compensation Board in three novels by Lillian O’Donnell commencing with "Aftershock" (1977). O'Donnell also wrote a pioneering book series (1972-1998) about a NYPD policewoman, Nora Mulcahaney and a later series about private investigator Gwenn Ramadge.
  • Callie Anson is an Anglican cleric who debuted in a 2002 short story and since then has appeared in novels starting 2005, by US born and UK based Kate Charles.
  • Belle Appleman is a young Jewish widow in two books set in Boston in the 1930s by Dorothy and Sydney Rosen, first was "Death and Blintzes", published 1985.
  • Susanna, Lady Appleton is a 16th century gentlewoman and herbalist in a book series debuted 1997 by Kathy Lynn Emerson.
  • Katherine Ardleigh is a sleuth in Victorian England in a series commenced 1994 by 'Robin Paige' (Susan Wittig Albert and Bill Albert).
  • Sarah Armstrong is a criminal profiler and Texas Ranger in a book series began 2008 by Kathryn Casey, previously a successful true-crime writer.
  • Jessie Arnold is a champion Alaskan dog sled racer who solves crimes with boyfriend Alex Jensen, a state trooper, in a series by Sue Henry debuted 1991.
  • Kristin Ashe is a lesbian private investigator in a series begun 1992 by Jennifer L. Jordan.
  • Carol Ashton is a Detective Inspector in a series of books by Australian crime novelist Claire McNab (debuted 1988).
  • Lady Emily Ashton (later Lady Emily Hargreaves) is a young woman sleuth in a series by Tasha Alexander set in the 1890s.
  • Kate "Ash" Ashurst is a Detective Inspector played by Caroline Catz on the 2004-2005 ITV series Murder in Suburbia.
  • Beth Austen Is a professor of English in three 19th century literature themed novels 1989-1998 by Edith Skom.
  • Jane Austen the novelist, is a sleuth in a series by Stephanie Barron (aka Francine Mathews), commenced 1996.
  • 'Cat' Fortunati Austen is a Sicilian-American entertainment reporter, a cop's widow and "baby sister" to six brothers, five cops and one priest in books by Jane Rubino. The series, set at the Jersey shore, debuted in 1995.
  • Jaine Austen is a freelance writer (of anything – including correspondence) and amateur sleuth in a book series by Laura Levine, debuted 2002.

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