John Lindermuth (writing as J. R.) writes across
genres, from thrillers to westerns. SHARES
THE DARKNESS, part of the ‘Sticks’ Hetrick series, is a thriller set in
small town modern-day Pennsylvania.
Police
Office Flora Vastine is investigating the murder of a school teacher, but her
probing opens personal wounds, as she observes the cost of obsessive love.
Wikipedia mentions various
possibilities for first the world’s female police officer, including ALICE
STEBBINS WELLS, hired in 1910 in Los Angeles.
But her claim seems highly dubious to me, given that PHOEBE
COUZINS was appointed to the position of deputy U.S. Marshal in eastern
Missouri when her father was named the U.S. Marshal there in 1884. Upon
her father's death in 1887, President GROVER CLEVELAND appointed Phoebe
interim marshal. However, two months later, Phoebe was replaced by a man.
Women law officers in the
Old West deserve a separate blog, but they also include F.M. MILLER in
Paris, Texas, appointed in 1891, who served in perilous Indian Territory (now
Oklahoma); ADA CARNUTT, SADIE BURCHE and MAMIE FOSSETT, also in Oklahoma; Mrs. JACK STRINGER of Seattle, Washington; and NELLIE BURCH of Kansas.
A
contender for first female deputy in the
United States is CLAIRE HELENA FERGUSON just 21 years old when she received her
commission in Salt Lake County, Utah. She was reportedly the only woman to ever visit the Robber’s Roost, a Utah cattle
thieves’ den — at least, as of 1899. She was also trained to use a gun like any
other deputy.
EDITH SMITH was the first female police officer in the United Kingdom
with full power of arrest, appointed In August 1915. Her duties were to deal
with cases where women were involved. She was concerned with trying to reduce
the number of prostitutes in Grantham in eastern England.
The woman
police investigator in small town America aspect of SHARES THE DARKNESS reminded me of ‘The Calling’ with SUSAN SARANDON.
But there have, of course, been many other female
cops in film and TV including:
FRANCES McDORMAND in ‘Fargo’
HELEN
MIRREN in UK TV series ‘Prime Suspect’
And SOFIA
HELIN in Scandi-Noir TV series ‘The Bridge.’
ANGIE
DICKINSON played the lead in the U. S. TV series ‘Police Woman’ (1974-1978.)
Special
mention should be made of ‘Decoy’
(1957-1958) the first American police TV series with a female protagonist - a typically feisty performance as an undercover cop by BEVERLY GARLAND.
Reviews of SHARES
THE DARKNESS:
‘Colorful characters, some surprises and twists,
nice touches of wry humor, all served up with crisp dialogue and the clear,
straightforward narrative of a talented writer.’
‘J.R. Lindermuth uses great foreshadowing and
strong dialogue to promote a strong story line.…’
‘The excitement of the hunt has a kind of hushed
tension.’
Thanks for the promo, Andrew. Much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, John. Two more blogs about you scheduled for the near future.
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