The first lady of thrillers that comes to mind is tough, gritty future cop, Lt. Eve Dallas from JD Robb’s In Death series. Eve was an abused child, a foster care ward, and pulled herself up through the system to become NYC’s top cop and the only woman to grab a ruthless Irish gazillionaire’s attention. Flawed, but ferocious, she provides justice for the dead and absolute loyalty to the few she has learned to love.
Once a prosecuting assistant district attorney, a heritage of law enforcement that goes back generations in her family, this recently widowed, mother of three is now taking on defense attorney cases and partnering her love interest in each dark, gritty crime in small town Scarlett Falls. She knows how to wield a pistol and packs her own trained self-defense moves. I give you Morgan Dane from Melinda Leigh’s Morgan Dane series.
It’s not like a woman gets into the US Military’s elite hush hush Delta Force any ol’ day, but Melissa ‘The Cat’ Moore is in and handles a jungle mission in Columbia with skill and fierce determination particularly when her mission goes wrong. Tough female military warriors are ML Buchman’s forte like in Heart Strike, Melissa’s story.
Scarlett Bishop is a tough as nails homicide detective in the Cincinnati PD special task force unit. She’s used to bringing down evil, but faced with a powerful villain who is killing off all potential witnesses and people, like her who get too close, she is forced to pair with a powerful vigilante civilian to close the case on human trafficking and organized crime in Alone in the Dark by Karen Rose.
A recent series about a strong as steel heroine from a past era is the Verity Kent series by Anna Lee Huber. Verity was a British spy during WWI, her husband was presumed dead, and then she carried on with panache. Against the world of the Roaring Twenties, Verity takes on hidden and dark deeds that people kill to keep secret.
So, there they are five of my favorite kick-butt gals who I would totally want on my team if a terrorist, serial killer, crime boss, or any other villain were on my tail. Who are your favorite tough heroines?
Shari
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I completely agree with you about Eve Dallas. Definitely kick ass! The others I’m not familiar with-yet. Fun post!
Yes! Eve is the ultimate. I think you’d enjoy Morgan Dane, too, when you get the chance, Lorna. 🙂
You’ve passed on some new to me heroines that I definitely need to check out! Hugs…
Splendid. Hope you get to enjoy some of these, Radiant Ro! 🙂 Have a good weekend.
Verity Kent sounds like my kind of heroine! Need to check out that series
Yes, there are only two out so far. I enjoyed them because they are both mystery and character centered plots. Hope you like them, Stephanie!
I’m not familiar with any of these. I would have to say mine would be Casey Duncan from the Rockton series by Kelley Armstrong.
I read my first Casey Duncan in late December after I did the list. I agree. She is definitely a contender. 🙂