The Lady Sleuths MEGAPACK ®

C. L. Pirkis, best known for her creation of the female detective Loveday Brooke, holds a notable place in the history of detective fiction. Writing in the late 19th century, Pirkis contributed to the emerging genre by presenting a professional female sleuth who relied on intelligence and observation rather than physical strength, helping to challenge the male-dominated narrative of the time. Her stories, often serialized in popular magazines, provided an early example of women authors shaping detective fiction and influencing the portrayal of female characters in the genre.

Janice Law (b. 1941) is an acclaimed author of mystery fiction. The Watergate scandal inspired her to write her first novel, The Big Payoff, which introduced Anna Peters, a street-smart young woman who blackmails her boss, a corrupt oil executive. The novel was a success, winning an Edgar nomination, and Law went on to write eight more in the series, including Death Under Par and Cross-Check. Law has written historical mysteries, standalone suspense, and, most recently, the Francis Bacon Mysteries, which include The Prisoner of the Riviera, winner of the 2013 Lambda Literary Gay Mystery Award. She lives and writes in Connecticut.