The 1920s and 1930s were known as the Golden Age of Detective Fiction. The classic murder mystery novels published in that era were characterised by whodunits, red herrings, and crime puzzles that invited the readers to solve the mystery along with the detective. As Ronald Knox, author of the Miles Bredon mysteries, put it, “A detective story must have as its main interest the unravelling of a mystery; a mystery whose elements are clearly presented to the reader.” The four most dominant female crime writers became known collectively as ‘the Queens of Crime’.

 

Agatha Christie

Arguably the most famous and prolific out of the four, Agatha Christie is known for her memorable detectives: the Belgian private detective Hercule Poirot and the elderly Miss Marple who has a knack for understanding human nature. Christie is a master of weaving complex storylines together and hiding the answer to the mystery in her dialogue. Christie herself became the centre of a mystery when she disappeared and was found 11 days later with complete memory loss.

 

Famous Works: Murder on the Orient Express, And Then There Were None, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

 

Dorothy Sayers

Dorothy Sayers’ detective, Lord Peter Wimsey, is an archetype for British gentleman detectives, while her other main character, mystery writer Harriet Vane, was modelled on Sayers herself. Sayers’ works focus on character development and explore philosophical and moral themes. She was also a founding member of the Detection Club, a group of British mystery writers who held regular meetings.

 

Famous Works: Gaudy Night, Whose Body?, The Nine Tailors

 

Margery Allingham

Margery Allingham is best remembered for her detective Albert Campion, who started out as a parody of Dorothy Sayers’ Lord Peter Wimsey, but eventually became his own character. Rather than just focusing on the ‘how’ and the puzzle, Allingham explores the characters’ motives and psychology. As a result, her characters are portrayed in shades of grey, rather than as purely good or evil. 

 

Famous Works: The Crime at Black Dudley, The Case of the Late Pig, Flower for the Judge

 

Ngaio Marsh

Ngaio (pronounced NY-oh) Marsh was a New Zealand writer known for her character Roderick Alleyn. Unlike the previous three writers’ heroes, Roderick Alleyn is a policeman and works for the Metropolitan Police. Marsh’s writing is rich with vivid details, yet is still easy to read. The Ngaio Marsh Award was created in her honour and is awarded annually for the best New Zealand mystery writing.

 

Famous Works: A Man Lay Dead, Died in the Wool, Night at the Vulcan