Female Detectives on TV and in Books

I'm a huge crime drama junkie, so my TiVo is always filled with the murder mysteries and courtroom dramas that are aplenty on TV these days. And I'm especially happy to see so many women in the leading roles, since I grew up reading and watching smart, tough female detectives like Nancy Drew, Miss Marple, and Jessica Fletcher. This Fall TV season, there's a new lady to add to the bunch, Sherlock Holmes's sidekick, Dr. Joan Watson (played by Lucy Liu), on Elementary. The new show debuts tonight, and we're excited to see a female version of the iconic detective doc!

These women prove that having brains can be sexy — no push-up bra required. So let's take a look back at the crime-solving characters who've paved the way for today's female detectives, and see what makes them all — the old and the new — great role models.