I'm a fan of classic detective fiction, especially that which features women detectives, so when I saw this book, I did not hesitate. I was not disappointed! It's a fascinating read, which features not only the history of women as detectives and their place in society, but also how women detectives were portrayed in fiction and in the theater and how those portrayals impacted what was expected of women detectives and how they were viewed. Women were working in the newly formed police departments sooner than one might think, often due to family ties of some sort. A male detective's wife, for example, might have responsibilities in the police station itself, whether it was searching/guarding female prisoners or doing some detective work in the field, going into situations that male detectives couldn't easily or usefully access. Later, the role of women detectives evolved and expanded. It was interesting to read about how women detecting became part of the New Woman movement in Britain and how women often used acting and/or journalistic skills to find success as detectives. As a result of their investigative work, societal problems, such as domestic violence, sexual assault, fraud, and more were dragged out of the shadows and into public awareness. I particularly liked the ways that Lodge tied the different strands of her narrative together, showing how novels and theater, journalism, police work, and private detectives all impacted one another. If you're a fan of classic detective fiction, women's history, the history of Britain in general, the history of theater, or the New Woman movement, or just someone who thinks this sounds like an interesting topic (you'd be right!), I can highly recommend this book.

I am so thankful and grateful to Sara Lodge for bringing to light the amazingly talented Victorian female detectives whose work was important to this field, but whose names where lost or emitted on purpose in order for them to be forgotten. I look forward to reading more on this topic and looking into the books referenced in this book. Thank you Sara Lodge!

In 1888, the Manchester Weekly Times claimed, “If there is an occupation for which women are utterly unfitted, it is that of the detective.” Yet, as Sara Lodge demonstrates here, women had already been operating in the field, largely unseen and undocumented. Lodge’s exploration of Victorian women in police work, both in fiction and reality, reveals a fascinating hidden history. These women not only participated in detective work but also served as inspiration for the “lady detectives” in the growing detective fiction genre. This trend fascinated and unsettled the Victorians in equal measure.

Lodge uncovers a vast network of women who worked off the record in various roles within law enforcement. There were “watchers” who conducted surveillance, “searchers” who frisked female suspects, and “writers” who served legal documents. These roles were particularly appealing to working-class women because they offered excitement, secrecy, and employment at a time when opportunities for women were limited. Respectable-looking women were especially suited for some of these tasks, as they were less likely to arouse suspicion. However, the work was not without its dangers. Margaret Saunders, a freelance detective, earned the nickname “Clubnose” after sustaining injuries during her career, which also saw her attacked with molten lead while pursuing criminals.

Lodge also highlights the tension between women's roles in detective work and societal expectations of feminine propriety. Female detectives were often employed in divorce investigations, which led to accusations of unscrupulous behaviour. One American journalist in 1878 criticized these women as being willing to do anything, even manufacture evidence, to succeed in their work. The Barrett divorce case of 1892 offers a scandalous example of this, where a female detective was sentenced to hard labor after luring a woman into adultery as part of an investigation.

Female detectives were often seen as more emotionally invested in their cases than their male counterparts, with persistence and intuition being key strengths. Frances Power Cobbe, an outspoken feminist, even proposed an all-female police force in 1888, arguing that they could outperform their male colleagues, especially in the hunt for Jack the Ripper. Cobbe imagined a band of women detectives closing in on the notorious killer, a fantasy far removed from the male officers’ failed attempts to go undercover in women’s clothing, which often led to public ridicule.

Fictional female detectives, like Anne Rodway and Dora Myrl, also embodied traits such as cleverness and resourcefulness, rather than relying on physical strength. These characters were popular and offered readers a vision of empowerment, though Lodge points out that their stories often glossed over the harsh realities faced by real women detectives. One notable historical figure is Kate Warn, who worked for Pinkerton’s Detective Agency in the 1860s and was celebrated in a fictionalized obituary that greatly exaggerated her exploits.

Lodge’s research also touches on how publishers capitalised on the public’s fascination with female detectives. Books like Revelations of a Lady Detective featured provocative cover art that hinted at a rebellious and unorthodox lifestyle, though the actual stories were tamer. This blend of fantasy and reality continued to blur the lines between what female detectives could do and how society perceived them.

Overall, Sara Lodge’s book sheds new light on the overlooked contributions of women to policing in the Victorian era, revealing a complex and intriguing history.

A really interesting subject, but the writing here was a little too dry and meandering for me to really get what I wanted out of this.

Sara Lodge was able to create a unique historical nonfiction book about Victorian women. It was really well done and introduced characters that I never heard of before. It was researched well and enjoyed the concept overall.

Sara Lodge's The Mysterious Case of the Victorian Female Detective is a fascinating look at the role of women in detective fiction during the Victorian era. This book combines historical analysis with an engaging narrative, making it perfect for anyone interested in the evolution of female detectives.

Lodge explores the cultural context that led to the rise of female detectives, showing how these characters challenged societal norms and influenced the genre. Her writing is lively and accessible, blending scholarly insight with entertaining anecdotes.

Overall, this book is a fun and informative read that highlights a unique aspect of literary history. Whether you’re a history enthusiast or a fan of detective fiction, The Mysterious Case of the Victorian Female Detective is highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This intriguing work of cultural history delves into the intersections between 19th-century representations of female detectives in novels/plays, women's rights (especially relating to marriage/divorce), and real-life women involved in detective/police work, for example as "searchers" frisking female criminals for stolen goods.

I liked that some of the crimes described were quotidian rather than sensational, giving an insight into everyday life in that era, for example tram conductors embezzling fares, women shoplifting in department stores, and domestic servants paying fortune tellers with food from their employers' larders. The author, Sara Lodge, notes that while in fiction the female detective was portrayed as "a defender and exemplar of her sex", her real-life counterpart was usually working, for a male boss, to apprehend other women for small-scale criminality. 'The Mysterious Case of the Victorian Female Detective' is written in a stylish and engaging way, and I think would appeal to fans of Judith Walkowitz's work.

Favourite quote (from detective sergeant Isabella Goodwin): "How can you expect a girl to be good on an empty stomach?"

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy.

This is fascinating, well-written, and well-researched nonfiction. I was hooked from the start. I can’t believe I have never heard of the real-life or fictional female detectives mentioned in this book! (I regret that I didn’t read the fictional stories before this book spoiled the ending, but I don’t think I could access all of them outside of this book.) I appreciated that in addition to her exciting retellings of female detective stories, Lodge explains how fact and fiction influenced each other - and why such women were important for society. This book has helped me understand how female detectives contributed to the safety, dignity, and rights of women. Feminists, history buffs interested in the Victorian era, and fans of Sherlock (and/or Enola) Holmes or Wilkie Collins would enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Yale University Press for the free eARC. I post this review with my honest opinions. This review will be posted on Goodreads and Amazon.

This book was absolutely fascinating!

I have studied the Victorian Period extensively during my academic career, so this book instantly appealed to me based on that. I also wrote my thesis on Victorian female detective fiction, so this book really would have come in handy for me while I was working on it!

This book discusses fictional female detectives (Loveday Brooke, Dorcas Dene, etc) but also analyzes actual female detectives working in Great Britain at the time. It was interesting to see the comparison between how they were depicted in literature and on stage versus real life. This was especially evident in comparing how differently male versus female detectives approached the job. For example, women did a lot of undercover work because they appeared to be innocuous and nonthreatening. They also handled a lot of cases involving marital spats or looking for proof of infidelity.

Overall this was a very interesting look at the time period. I haven’t read a nonfiction about the Victorian period in ages, so it was a lot of fun to experience it again.

Thanks to NetGalley for the free kindle book in exchange for my review! I would have never found this book without their app!

As someone who has always loved historical cozy mysteries, particularly those set in the Victorian and Regency period, I ❤️ loved reading a book about the real female detectives during that time period. As with every non-fiction book, I am always concerned about author bias, but there wasn't any of that here (unless you count the 'woman should be able to work and get a divorce from violent partners' as bias). The entire book was just filled with information about descriptions of real cases and summaries of fictional novels and plays about written about female detectives written in the 1800s.


Although most of the fictional detectives we see are upper class women, in real life, most of them were working women. Some were actresses, and many were the wives of policemen. They would go investigate were the police couldn't, but they usually were not involved in murders. They performed searches on other women, helped gather evidence for divorces, and even helped close baby farms.

Of course, everything they did wasn't all that great. The pretty ones would ride trains and give the conductors a sob story about why they couldn't pay for the ride and get the men fired if they were nice enough to help out.


I loved learning that there used to be entire newspapers devoted to just sharing all the salacious details of people's divorces. That is what would save the small town newspaper. Gossip sheets about your neighbor's divorce. Tell it everyone in town wouldn't have a subscription. Sure, it would never work, what with lawsuits, but still.

I absolutely loved this book! Definitely would recommend it, not only to non-fiction lovers, but everyone who loves historical cozy mysteries. It will definitely show you a new side of all of your favorite novels (even though it doesn't reference any of them), as you learn about the real female detectives.

The book addresses both real life and fictional female detectives. It reads a little like a doctoral thesis and intends to inform more than entertain. Women were involved in detecting in fiction and real life sooner than I realized. There was an interesting correlation matrimonial causes act of 1857 and the rise of private detectives that employed both men and women for “secret watching” to aid in the surprising number of women petitioners. They were also female “detective searchers” in police departments and by the 1890s women were running their own agencies.
If you have an interest in Victorian literature and culture, this is the book for you. If you’re just a lover of detective stories set in this era with female leads and not an academic, some sections might drag.

Loved this book so much omg!!! I rated it 4 stars because it really is THAT book! I really recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good and the characters are fantastic.