Unfortunately, this failed to hit the mark for me.

Whilst to narrative had more of a conversational flow, which was easy enough to follow, it lacked specific details, which were probably not readily available. In fact, author Eder alerts the reader to this from the very start. Based upon that fact alone, Eder might have done better to focus on the "girls" of the title and include more on those she has mentioned the text, using Foley and key points in Foley's life with which to anchor the narrative.

This was just okay it's pretty short and I think it would have been better if it had focused on different stories instead of just one. Mae Foley had a super interesting life, but I bet all of those other 'girls' did as well, and I think it would have made for a more flushed out book.

A nonfictional historical take on Mae Foley and the first women to serve for the NYPD in the 1930s. This book really caught my eye and I enjoy non fiction when the book is right. I felt this book would have been more appropriate had it not felt like it was trying to be historical and read like a memoir. Eder gives a disclaimer that lots of information was missing and it kinda sours some of the field descriptions for me, which was my main reason for wanting to read it. There was fascinating content and I’m sure it was only so in depth considering the times and being in a mostly male dominated work force. Definitely have to admire these women regardless and I thank Eder for depicting them as best she could with the information she had.

The Girls Who Fought Crime caught my eyes since I saw the cover. The premise to know more about how women at early years served as investigators and crime detectives especially in the NYPD really intrigued me. This book following a woman name Mae Foley. She was a social girl, a dedicate wife, a great mother. Later she added with public service to the city too.

I never knew about this super woman and her team before and such delightful to read her story. I saw the author did her research to gather so much informations to write this one. This book was mixed between biography and also historical fiction for help reader get the picture of events and the main character to flesh out. Readers who want to know more about other women being mentioned at here suppose make continuing research because this book focus on Mae Foley. The writing style was okay and easy to follow. I think it's an read.

Thank you Sourcebooks NF and Netgalley for provided my copy. My thoughts and opinions always become my own

The title is more in keeping with the language of the early years of having women in the NYPD, this is notably the biography of one very notable woman police detective. She was a very real and exemplary person who loved to travel for leisure to balance the very real policing she did. Not a desk jockey, but a police investigator of the first order and one who would be proud of the NYPD for reaching its goal of 20% women by 2020 and encouraging of the department's goal of 30% by 2030. There is also included a potted history of women who made a real difference in policing from before the turn of the 20th century until the present.
Did you know that in the first half of that century the WOMEN recruits were required to have a college degree? But not the men?
I requested and received an EARC from Sourcebooks via NetGalley. Thank you!

I was fascinated by Mae Foley a true trail blazer a pioneer who helped over 2,000 women known as the Mashers join the police force proving women were as capable of investigating fighting crime as men.I had never read about her before or her position with the NyPd.She was a true pioneer a woman to admire.This is so well written so interesting I really enjoyed getting to know her#netgalley #sourcebooks

Police woman May Foley became a female cop when prohibition in the dustbowl were recent events she would go on to be a detective a mother a wife a world traveler and her biggest critic. She was held at the end of the gun got in fist fights and took down criminals both male and female an in this book The Girls Who Fought Crime we learned all about her and other females who either were or claim to be the first female to do… In her pictures she seems to have a quiet dignity to her put things in the book that she said made her seem like someone I would’ve loved to hang around she seemed funny nice but mostly she loved being a police woman in from all accounts he definitely got the job done. Her husband was a big supporter of hard-working in at a time when most women would look down on for holding your job she did it anyway. I love this book and loved reading about such a pioneer female who did what she wanted to do and live her life by her standards and not societies what a great book! Mary Kay a bear has done such a stellar job telling Miss Foley‘s story and feminist everywhere should be flying her flag I highly recommend this book even if you read it just for the True Crime aspects or historical reasons you will not be able to put this book down it is so good and I thought the author did such a great job I loved it it is a definite five star read. I received this book from NetGalley and a publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC via Netgalley.

I wanted to like this. I did. Major General Mari Elder does bring a quite deal of passion to the subject matter. She clearly admires Mae Foley; yes Foley not Isabella Godwin is the subject of this book, so the idea of first seems to have a rather strange definition here. Additionally, this book isn’t about girls or women who solve crime, it is a biography of Mae Foley, one of the earliest female investigators in New York City, who did lead an interesting life.
The problem with this book, however, is that it can’t decide if it wants to rather accurate historical fiction or a biography/history. While at times, the book is a biography of Foley there are pages of fictionalized conversations between Foley and family members. Those conversations are not cited and, quite frankly, read as if they are happy between people now.
While this might be understandable considering the lack of sources, it does not make a good history. It doesn’t. Especially, when those conversations tie into overuse tropes and stereotypes. While those might be based in reality, it is just too fictional.
The reason why it also grants is that if the book needed more pages, why not include more about the other women – the girls in the title? The book is a biography of Foley, and while other women who served with or in the police department are mentioned, they are not, for the most part, dealt with in depth. Why include “girls” in the title then? It makes no sense, and is quite frankly, disappointing. Instead of having pages of made up dialogue between Foley and whoever, why not have more details other women such as Mary Boyd? Or about Cora Isabel Parchment or Lawton Bruce – the first African American police women? They are only mentioned briefing. This isn’t the girls who fought crime.
It’s shame because it could have been very interesting if there wasn’t so much novelization going on. It actually became an incredibly frustrating read because of these flaws.

The Girls Who Fought Crime by Mari K. Eder starts with a note that becomes rather prophetic in a bad way. Eder mentions that scrounging up records on the NYPD prior to about 1930 is extremely difficult. Eder attempts to tell the story of Mary "Mae" Foley who was a tough as nails police officer back when that was extremely rare. Mae Foley certainly deserves a book about her, but unfortunately the details to tell her story are missing.

Eder does her best to fill out a full narrative. It seems certain scenes and dialogue are created to flesh out the parts of the story which lack documentation. This makes the book feel stunted as both the history and the characters never get to shine. The reader seems to zoom through scenes, cases, and time periods without leaving a lasting impact.

This book is short when compared to many other non-fiction books. Ultimately, I think Eder had an excellent subject on her hands but needed to pick one of two lanes. Either expand the history and characters covered by the narrative so there are enough details to stick only to the facts or turn this into a historical fiction novel. The combination of both did not come together.

(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Sourcebooks.)

The Girls Who Fought Crime: The Untold True Story of the Country's First Female Investigator and Her Crime Fighting Squad by Mari K. Eder is an excellent nonfiction that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I found this book completely fascinating. I had never came across Mae Foley before, and to learn about her trailblazing position in NYC and the police force. To learn so much about Mae, the challenges she faced, all that she overcame, and her “Masher Squad” was just amazing.

I can’t believe that I didn’t know about this impressive woman before now. I highly recommend.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Sourcebooks nonfiction for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 8/8/23.