The Penguin Book of Victorian Women in Crime: Forgotten Cops and Private Eyes from the Time of Sherlock Holmes (Penguin Classics)

I'm beginning to think of Michael Sims as my personal literary advisor, even though I don't know him. His collection of Victorian detective stories, The Dead Witness, introduced me to several delightful writers I'd never heard of. Now he's expanded my horizons again with this collection of Victorian Women in Crime.I was thrilled to learn, for example, that one of my favorite fin de siècle authors, Richard Marsh (The Beetle), wrote a whole series of stories with a feisty female detective whose special talent is lip reading. I immediately ordered a collection of these Judith Lee stories. I loved the story by Grant Allen featuring Lois Cayley, penniless Girton graduate, and plan to follow up on her adventures. Another find was the New England writer Mary E. Wilkins. I think I'll try her ghost stories.So if you're in search of forgotten writers of vintage fiction, which I always am, Sims's Victorian collections are a great resource.In his lively introduction to Victorian Women in Crime, Sims points out that fictional female detectives appeared on the scene decades before they became a reality. Women sleuths were a kind of fantasy that appealed greatly to the reading public. Some of the women investigators in this book are Sherlock Holmes types in skirts, complete with their own Watsons. One is a master of disguise, another claims simply to be a hard worker, and another boasts of "corkscrew-like qualities" as an interrogator.Every story is exceptionally well written and engaging. This is remarkable, considering the obscurity of the authors overall. Anna Katherine Green is the most famous writer in the collection, but even she may be a new discovery for some readers.I enjoyed every minute of this book and recommend it with enthusiasm.

Be aware this slim book contains sample FIRST CHAPTERS of books by various authors. They are not complete stories! The idea of the book is to give you a taste of certain forgotten authors so that you'll go track down the actual books themselves.

This got here on time and is great. I would recommend it to any one. I would do it again.

What an unusual idea. Perhaps in the midst of new Sherlock Holmes interest, Penguin decided to put out this unusual volume entitled, "The Penguin Book of Victorian Women in Crime: Forgotten Cops and Private Eyes From the Time of Sherlock Holmes." It ended up in my mail after reviewing a collection of Holmes-inspired stories. It is a collection of stories with characters I was not familiar with, by authors, of whom just a few had some name recognition for me.It is more scholarly work than one for the general reader. It is edited, and edited well, by Michael Sims, who has written a range of books, including ones touching on the offbeat works found in this collection. His introductions to the stories set strong contexts for both the stories and the authors. Most of authors are males, but several women represent their own characters in breaking new ground.A common theme in many of these stories is a woman, forced by circumstances, to enter into a male-dominated profession. Quite often, the fact that they are women, or wealthy, or educated, allow them into situations in which a male detective could not make progress. In other words, many of the authors set up situations which allow their characters to enter into an non-female world with an excuse most readers could grant. Once in that world, their success comes from their own wits. It would have been nearly unheard of to actually have women working in these roles, so their appearance in fiction precedes their appearance in reality. As Sims notes in his introduction, "Whatever the progressive sensibilities of the author, the creation of a female detective instantly provided a number of narrative possibilities that were unavailable to male heroes."The range of stories also show the development of the detective story. Some show little real investigative work at all; instead, simple clarity allows a case to unfold. Others show the detectives doing the hard work of examining crime scenes or following a suspect, even to an underground cavern.I say the work is more scholarly than a general read in that Sims includes stories which are justifiably forgotten, except by those wanting to know what was the publishing culture at that time. Mary Wilkin's "The Long Arm," has all the elements of a suspenseful plot, but the suspense is mainly missing and we wait patiently while she solves nothing -- it is a visiting male detective who does most of the work outside of the story. However, these stories are balance by some excellent entries, including two by Anna Katherine Green.This anthology will be enjoyed those with interests in the detective story, or women in literature, but it is not aimed at the general reader looking for just another good mystery.

This collection is full of very well-thought-out choices and I love that the stories are presented chronologically (by their publication date; the stories span between 1864 and 1915). I especially appreciated Sim's introduction, which put you into the mind frame of exactly the social and political position women were placed in during the Victorian era in Britain.The compilation consists of either short stories that were one-offs, shorts that were part of a series, or a chapter from a larger story. Either way, Sims set-up each one very well so you didn't feel lost and you understood where in the Victorian time line this story fell. He also includes a nice intro background to the authors that are included in this title.Each time I finished a story I thought to myself, "Man, that was really good. I hope the next one isn't a let down." And the next one would be even better than the last. The only story I was kind of "meh" about is the second one, "The Unknown Weapon" by Andrew Forrester. It also happens to be the longest story in the collection, but it was good to read for context and historical purposes.This collection is equal, if not better, than its companion, The Penguin Book of Gaslight Crime.

I thought I would like to read the history ofwomen detectives so I tried the sample. Unfortunately,thesample is simple a lengthy history and interest of theauthor in the subject. No actual case was available.Couple that with the information that the stories revolvearound fiction characters (I was looking forward toreading historical fiction, i.e.,real characters withhistorical liberties)and I decided not to buy the book.

Yes, I love when my supposedly -new- book comes through the post like it’s been used by about 4 different owners before I got it….

Some interesting stories but not sure that they all translate well for a modern reader.

Interesting stuff, particularly the oldest stories.

As much as I enjoy the whodunnit historical fictions, the contemporary mysteries set in certain periods, reading the mystery tales written in the Victorian period has the authentic charm that cannot be replicated. Authors living in this culture and time period had no need to explain or modify the modern culture to fit the views of 21st century readers, rendering the tales not only entertaining as short stories of deduction but also as a sociological curiosity.

THis book never landed at my place ;God knows where it is . I amabsolutly devastated for I really wanted to read it