Women Detectives Quotes

“Ever think of becoming a cop?"

"I did, but at the time there wasn't much opportunity for women. Lady cops were confined to typing, taking shorthand, and the juvenile division."

"And I don't suppose you have any womanly skills like typing or taking shorthand?"

I smiled. "No, but I'm a mean shot with a .38 and I bake terrific bread.”
― Marcia Muller, Edwin of the Iron Shoes

“In her experience, it was those first sixty seconds, from the moment she flashed her P.I. license to the end of her pitch, that she was most likely to earn someone's cooperation. Older people were the easiest, if only because they were so often bored out of their minds that they welcomed any distraction. Men were curt, but they usually found the time, as long as she did the little-me, big-eye, big-chest thing. Women were more skeptical, because women spent their lives listening to bullshit.”
― Laura Lippman, The Sugar House

“I do admire the new breed of fictional female PI's. The ones who'll survive a throttling, a kidnapping, a punch in the kidneys from a Mafia goon and then wind up the evening making love to a helicopter pilot. In the helicopter. I think I need more time at the gym.”
― Cynthia Lawrence, Take-Out City

“We women have intuition," Barby said loftily. "I wouldn't expect you to understand. I can't imagine why there aren't more women detectives.”
― John Blaine, The Phantom Shark

“...never fully appreciated her before," he told us. "She's strong, like one of these women detectives in books, but kind and compassionate--”
― Jacqueline Girdner, Most Likely to Die

“My son, Eddie, an artist, a rock musician, and a song writer, was so darned sensitive that life bounced his heart around like it was a dime-store basketball.”
― DAISY PETTLES, Chickenlandia Mystery

“Ain't nobody asked you to tell the truth, go on and lie like everybody else!" she said with a twinkle in her eye as she carefully combed a white foaming substance through a dubious customer's hair. "What you doing coming in here so late? You're lucky you don't have to work like everybody else. Some heifers have all the luck! This lady is a detective. A bona-fide private eye," she added, waving her comb in my direction to her customer held captive. "If somebody owes you money or hats with your last half-dollar, this here's the sister to track them down."

I acknowledged her compliment with a nod, and the customer looked me over with renewed respect.”
― Valerie Wilson Wesley, When Death Comes Stealing

“The last thing I need is the sheriff on my case. That's who I thought you were, as a matter of fact. They got women sheriffs these days, did you know that? Sherifettes."

"So I've heard."

"What about you?" she asked. "How'd you become a detective. That's a weird way to make a living, isn't it?"

She was becoming real chatty now that I was on my way out and I wondered if I might pump her for more information. She seemed eager to prolong the contact, like someone who's been cooped up too long with a pack of preschool kids.

"I sort of backed into detective work," I said, "but it beats selling shoes.”
― Sue Grafton, B is for Burglar

“Ann broke in. "I'm sorry, June. This is Kinsey Milhone. She's a private detective Pop hired to help us out."

"Private detective?" she said, with disbelief. "I didn't think there was a such a thing, except on television shows."

"Nice to meet you," I said. "I'm afraid the work we do isn't quite that thrilling."

"Well I hope not. All those gun battles and car chases? It's enough to make my blood run cold! It doesn't seem like a fit occupation for a nice girl."

"I'm not that nice," I said modestly.

She laughed, mistaking this for a joke.”
― Sue Grafton, F is for Fugitive