Sister Sleuths

Female Detectives in Britain

Nell Darby

• Publisher: Pen & Sword History
• Year: 2021
• ISBN:
  9781526780263
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Political Corruption & Misconduct
• Index: Politics & International Relations

"A unique and inherently fascinating history that brings a particular aspect of the role of women in law enforcement up out of obscurity." — Midwest Book Review The 1857 Divorce Act paved the way for a new career for women: that of the private detective. To divorce, you needed proof of adultery—and men soon realized that women were adept at infiltrating households and befriending wives, learning secrets and finding evidence. Over the course of the next century, women became increasingly confident in gaining work as private detectives, moving from largely unrecognized helpers to the police and to male detectives, to becoming owners of their own detective agencies. In fiction, they were depicted as exciting creatures needing money and work; in fact, they were of varying ages, backgrounds and marital status, seeking adventure and independence as much as money. Former actresses found that detective work utilized their skills at adopting different roles and disguises; former spiritualists were drafted to denounce frauds and stayed to become successful private eyes; and several female detectives became keen supporters of the women's suffrage movement, having seen for themselves how career-minded women faced obstacles in British society. Sister Sleuths seeks to shed light on the groundbreaking women who have worked over the past century and a half to uncover wrongdoing and solve crimes. "The book is well-researched and provides numerous examples of women who either dabbled in investigation or made it their life's work." — Historical Novel Society "Absolutely enthralling stuff." —Books Monthly

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction: ‘At least as good detectives as men’
• Chapter 1 Early Detective Work
• Chapter 2 It Started with Kate
• Chapter 3 Monitoring Morality
• Chapter 4 The Female Detective: Fact or Fiction?
• Chapter 5 From Amateur to Professional
• Chapter 6 The Emergence of the New Woman
• Chapter 7 The Golden Age Dawns
• Chapter 8 Fashionable Females
• Chapter 9 Acting the Part
• Chapter 10 Press and Publicity
• Chapter 11 Frauds and Fakes
• Chapter 12 Spiritualism and Scepticism
• Chapter 13 Suffragist Agents
• Chapter 14 War and Peace
• Chapter 15 Roaring into the Post-war Era
• Chapter 16 The Dirty Thirties
• Chapter 17 From Licences to Dog Leads
• Notes
• Select Bibliography
• Plate section