Kate Derie (cluelass@cluelass.com)
Mon, 14 Jun 1999 22:07:31 -0700
Tell me again, was the question whether a woman could write a
hardboiled book, or whether a woman could be the protagonist
in same? IMHO, the gender inverse of the romance novel is the
men's adventure series--you know, The Destroyer, or The
Mercenary, or whatever. Churned out in mass quantities
according to a strict formula (which does not always exclude
merit). Not *exactly* the same as hardboiled. My concept of
hardboiled can be defined by what it is not--not sentimental,
not pretentious, not polite, not optimistic. All
gender-neutral concepts.
S. J. Rozan is doing some very solid work in her series, in
which alternate books are written from the point of view of
P.I. Lydia Chin and her quasi-partner Bill Smith. The books
written from Bill's POV are my favorites: Concourse, and No
Colder Place. Bill is another lonesome schmoe, as Lydia
insists on keeping their relationship strictly professional.
Also, in both "his" books, he goes undercover, which
automatically places him in a very isolated situation and
subtly raises interesting issues of truth and identity.
Jo Bannister writes an excellent series of police
procedurals, called the Castlemere series (name of the
fictional British town). Not quite as gritty as Rankin or
Harvey, more traditional in following the activities of
several members of the team. The Irish police sergeant is
particularly memorable (although his name, obviously, is
not). Very worthwhile entries in the sub-genre, but I can't
say about her other books.
For a tough, believable female protagonist there is L.A.
criminalist Smokey Brandon, appearing in two books by Noreen
Ayres. It's been a while since I read these, but as I recall
Smokey is neither peppy nor spunky nor cheery nor feisty
(thank God). As I remember she has a tendency to be looking
for love in all the wrong places, but that's not unheard of
in the male of the species.
I have heard good things about Lynn S. Hightower, who writes
about Cincinnati homicide cop Sonora Blair -- anybody read
her?
Regards, Kate Derie Creator of the ClueLass HomePage, http://www.cluelass.com
Editor of the Deadly Directory, http://www.deadlyserious.com
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