SOURCE: Brownworth, Victoria A. Introduction to Out for Blood: Tales of Mystery and Suspense by Women, edited by Victoria A. Brownworth, pp. ix-xiv. Chicago: Third Side Press, 1995.

In the following introduction to an anthology of crime-mystery-detective stories written by women, Brownworth considers the contributions of female authors to the development of the genre, and provides an overview of selections included in the volume.

I have always, since I was a young child, loved mysteries—suspense, detective stories, ghost tales. The first mystery I ever read was The Ghost of Blackwood Hall by Carolyn Keene; at eight, it was my introduction to Nancy Drew and my life-long romance with mystery. Carolyn Keene was followed by a host of gothic, mystery, detective, and suspense writers—Agatha Christie, Mary Roberts Rhinehart, Victoria Holt, Phyllis Whitney, Dorothy Eden, Daphne du Maurier, Helen MacInnes, Dorothy L. Sayers were among my favorites. Not surprisingly...