The Female Investigator in Literature, Film, and Popular Culture

In this book the author examines how women detectives are portrayed in film, in literature and on TV. Chapters examine the portrayal of female investigators in each of these four genres: the Gothic novel, the lesbian detective novel, television and film.

Lisa M. Dresner is a special assistant professor in the Department of English and Freshman Composition at Hofstra University. She lives in Forest Hills, New York.

Lisa M. Dresner
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 240
Bibliographic Info: notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2007
pISBN: 978-0-7864-2654-6
eISBN: 978-1-4766-0773-3
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      vi
Introduction: The Mystery of the Missing Theory      1

1. The Female Gothic Novel and the “Almost-Detective”      9
2. Lesbian Detectives Have Car Trouble      40
3. The Socio-Cultural Determinants of the Role of the Female Investigator on Television      63
4. Why Female Investigators in Hollywood Film Are Intrinsically Mad      114
5. A Case Study of Rebecca      154

Chapter Notes      183
Bibliography      215
Index      228

• “Extensive bibliography…in-depth information…a wealth of knowledge”—Against the Grain
• “Valuable observations”—Feminist Collections
• “Excellent, well-organized reference sources…useful”—Scarlet