Women on Top

For the blog Criminal Element, Marianne Delacourt (aka Marianne de Pierres), the Australian author of the Tara Sharp comic crime novels, has put together a list of what she says are the “Top Ten Female Crime and Mystery Authors.” As with any such survey, this one lacks a scientific basis, but reflects the opinions of the people Delacourt consulted online. Nonetheless, it provides a decent set of recommendations for readers wanting to expand their familiarity with women writers in this genre.

Beyond the top 10 vote-getters (Agatha Christie and Tana French among them), Delacourt features an “honorable mentions” lineup that includes Ngaio Marsh and Denise Mina. She also offers a selection of “wildcard” individual books by women “that you might like to try”—a couple of which are unfamiliar even to yours truly.