[Publib] Re: Women Mystery Writers reference book?

[Andy Barnett]

Since you mentioned indexes by profession and location, it seems that 
the books should be about the characters rather than the authors. 
Barnett's series (three volumes , arranged by decades) is almost the 
only one that focuses on the characters rather than the authors. They 
have geographic and profession indexes, which books that focus on 
authors do not. Since it is limited to series fiction, it makes a 
good guide for readers who like series mysteries (that would be just 
about all of us). Her essays on each series character place them in 
the history of the genre and explain the appeal of the series. It is 
a reader's advisory tool and not a collection of biographies or 
bibliographies.  She is currently updating the volume covering the 
1990s to extend the series started then. [disclosure: Colleen is my Mom].

Mystery Women: An Encyclopedia of Leading Women Characters in Mystery 
Fiction, Vol.1 (1860-1979 (Revised)
by Colleen Barnett, Poisoned Pen Press; Revised edition (September 1, 
2006)  ISBN-10: 159058225X , ISBN-13: 978-1590582251
At 07:35 PM 4/21/2008, you wrote:
>A friend asked me to find this:  "It's a book - kind of like an 
>encyclopedia of women mystery writers, but way more interesting than 
>that.  There are listings by geographical areas where the novels 
>take place, by profession of the women (medical examiner, private 
>eye, etc. etc ) and lots of other interesting information.
>As that area of writing has really exploded in the past few years, 
>the book may no longer be published.  I have seen two publications 
>of it in past years.  I think the words "women" and "detectives" 
>were in the title, which was a long title."
>
>Does anyone know the title and publication information?


Andy Barnett, Asst. Director            McMillan Memorial Library
490 East Grand Ave. Wisconsin Rapids, WI  54494
                 www.mcmillanlibrary.org
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that 
matter.  -  Martin Luther King, Jr.