SOURCE: Della Cava, Frances A., and Madeline H. Engel. “Racism, Sexism, and Antisemitism in Mysteries Featuring Women Sleuths.” In Diversity and Detective Fiction, edited by Kathleen Gregory Klein, pp. 38-59. Bowling Green, Ohio.: Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 1999.

In the following essay, Della Cava and Engel explore instances of various kinds of racism in several contemporary detective novels featuring female protagonists.

As more and more women achieve prominence in mystery fiction both as writers and main characters,¹ a growing concern about social issues has begun to permeate the literature; “humanistic crime fiction” has come to the fore. This subgenre “incorporates in-depth characterization with plot realism and social commentary with detection.” While not limited to books by women, Marcia Muller argues that “this type of novel has become more visible because of the large influx of women into the field” (“In the Tradition” 157). Jon Breen also sees contemporary...