Agatha Christie is probably the best-known crime fiction writer in the world, but she is not the only Queen of Crime. Below are my favourite female authors, listed in alphabetical order.

1. Margery Allingham

   This British author, a contemporary of Agatha Christie, is the creator of Albert Campion. Campion is a member of the upper-class, who works with his servant, Maggersfontein Lugg, to solve mysteries, often using his connections in the seamy London underground. The language used is much more flowery than that of Agatha Christie, and has therefore dated, but her books are still a fine read.
   Start with: The Crime at Black Dudley/Mystery Mile

2. Hilary Bonner

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   Bonner is a relative newcomer to the field of crime fiction. Another British author, she was once the showbusiness editor of the Daily Mail, which is sometimes apparent in her books – many of them feature journalists and/or rock stars, although the bulk of the story is told from the point of view of the investigating officers. Quite unusually for this genre, her books often have a high sexual content.
   Start with: The Cruelty of Morning

3. Agatha Christie

   No list of Queens of Crime can be without this author. Although she died back in 1976, her seventy-odd novels, featuring characters such as Poirot, Miss Marple and Tommy and Tuppence, are still read and loved by many. So many, in fact, that the Guiness Book of Records claims that she is the best-selling individual author of all time, along with Shakespeare. The clue to her success is said to be in the language that she uses, which is clear and largely free of language that would date it.
   Start with: The Mysterious Affair at Styles

4. Elizabeth George

   Although American by birth, Elizabeth George chose to set her books in the UK, featuring the aristocratic Inspector Lynley. Her novels take place all over the country, not letting the fact that a London detective would rarely become involved in a case outside his jurisdiction get in the way. Although her books often stereotype the British class system, they are a good read, particularly the first few in the series.
   Start with: A Great Deliverance

5. Sue Grafton

   Featuring American Private Eye Kinsey Millhone, Sue Grafton starting writing crime fiction during a painful split from her husband – apparently thinking up ways to kill or injure him made her feel better! Her books, starting with A is For Alibi, have been developed over the last twenty-five years and show-case changes in technology and forensics. Her latest book is T is For Trespass.
   Start with: A is For Alibi

6. P D James

   Best known as the creator of Alan Dagleish of Scotland Yard, P D James’s plots are highly complex and often connected to the British bureaucracy – not surprising as Baroness James was once a civil servant herself. Like Agatha Christie, she is a fan of the closed-door style of crime fiction, in which there are a finite number of suspects, for example, on an island or in a stately home. Although well into her eighties, she is still writing, and another Dagleish novel is expected later in 2008.
   Start with: Cover Her Face

7. Ngaio Marsh

   This author from New Zealand is well-known for her theatre work, both as an actress and director, as well as for her crime novels, many of which are set in and around the theatre. Her fictional detective is Roderick Alleyn, from Scotland Yard. Also a contemporary of Agatha Christie, Marsh’s work is quite bogged down in period detail, which makes it a little hard to read. However, her plots usually make up for this.
   Start with: A Man Lay Dead

8. Barbara Nadel

   The attraction for me of Barbara Nadel’s work is that it is set in modern day Turkey, where Nadel is a frequent visitor. Her novels feature Istanbul detectives Cetin Ikmen and Mehmet Suleyman, and are vividly written to include descriptions of the colours and smells of Istanbul.
   Start with: Belshazzar’s Daughter

9. Dorothy L Sayers

   Another contemporary of Agatha Christie, Sayers’ work is still popular today. Her main character is Lord Peter Wimsey, an aristocrat with an interest in crime, who often works closely with the police on cases of murder. His wife, Harriet Vane, is a writer who was educated at Oxford University (as indeed Sayers was herself), which is perhaps why Sayers’ work is more aware of a woman’s potential in society than her contemporaries.
   Start with: Whose Body?

10. Minette Walters

    Unlike most crime fiction authors, Minette Walters doesn’t have a recurring hero/heroine, chosing to write stand-alone novels. Her earlier work tends to revolve around the upper classes, but later novels introduce more working class characters. As such, her work is varied and she doesn’t stick to any one particular style.
    Start with: The Ice House

There are many others. Donna Leon, Patricia Cornwell, Karin Slaughter, Sara Paretsky, Patricia Wenworth, Tess Gerrittson, Josephine Tey, Karin Fossum, Karin Alvtegen, Clare Francis and Tami Hoag have all written marvellous books, but those mentioned above have, for me at least, really stood the test of time.