Female Detective

Published in 1864, 'Female Detective' by Andrew Forrester (the pseudonym of James Redding Ware) is one of the earliest works featuring a female detective. The book is presented as a collection of memoirs written by an anonymous detective who aims to demonstrate the value of her profession. Through seven stories set in London, she recounts her investigative methods while addressing the nature of detective work itself, tackling cases that include suspicious deaths and mysterious body parts. This collection is notable for its pioneering portrayal of a female detective in a genre predominantly featuring male protagonists.