Which is better Public or Private Detectives
Published March 14, 2012 | 
We have posted a new topic on the forum: http://hollerback.womendetectivesblog.info/index.php?topic=83.0. It asks the question: “Which is better Public or Private Detectives?”. Each of the types of detectives has their own set of rules and requirements. And each gives us as readers a unique perspective to the story they are participating in. Private detectives are generally self-trained, apprentice with someone who already is a private detective and has more flexibility in accomplishing their investigative goals. Depending on the type of agency the private detectives belong to there might be some limitations as to money. An independent self employed private detective usually has financial limitations unless they are independently wealthy, of course. Those employed by an agency has the financial backing of the company but may end up only doing boring routine stuff. Most private detectives do employee background checks, forensic accounting investigations, follow cheating spouses or try to find missing people after the police have given up. They are not supposed to break the law but they, generally, don’t have a lot of rules that they have to follow to get their job done. And finally, they rarely get shot at.
Public detectives are employed by city, state and federal agencies must go through a rigorous training and educational program, go through years on the street patrols or probation as newbie agents. Their basic function is to investigate crimes of all kinds, catch criminals and find missing people. They have very specific rules on how to do their jobs and must follow the law. All of these detectives has access to their equipment, computers and databases. Sometimes, depending on the budget, that can be a good or bad thing. They can go into a bad situation everyday. They deal with all kinds of people everyday and have lots of stories to tell.
I like stories about both kinds of detectives and at one time or another have thought about becoming both kinds myself. If you want to find out more about becoming a private detective then you have to contact your state’s licensing bureau for the requirements in the state in which you live. http://www.pimagazine.com/private_investigator_license_requirements.html
For the Public Detectives you have to go to the agency you wish to be employed by to find our their requirements but to get a summary you can look here: http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/33-3021.01
Finally, to answer the question of: “Which is better Public or Private Detectives?” is that it depends. That’s right, it depends on what you are looking for, your personality, your abilities, etc. And as for us readers when we want a private detective story we read some Kinsey Milhone or V.I. Warshawski. If we want to read about public detectives we can read about Eve Dallas or Joanna Brady.
Psychic Detectives
Published March 30, 2011 | We just got through reading 3 of Victoria Laurie’s Psychic Detectives books. I just went to the library to find something new to read and picked up the three paperbacks that were available on the shelves. My mom started reading them first because I was working the night shift and didn’t have time to read them that week. She came dragging through the kitchen the next morning when I got home because she was up all night reading the first book, A Vision of Murder, and she couldn’t put it down until she finished it. Now, I had to try them out but I had to wait until I had a day off because if they were as good as they say they were then I couldn’t afford to go to work without any sleep. Not surprising my mom was right and I couldn’t put down the books once I started reading them. A great series and well worth the read.
Abby Cooper is a Psychic by trade but ends up solving crimes as well. As the series progresses she has a FBI boyfriend and a female private eye friend who ends up renting space in Abby’s office and partners with her on several adventures. And her sister, Cat, is a self-made millionairess. Come to find out Victoria Laurie really is a psychic and is now devoting her time to being a full-time writer.
Here is a listing of the Psychic Detectives Books:
1. Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye
2. Better Read than Dead
3. A Vision of Murder
4. Killer Insight
5. Crime Seen
6. Death Perception
7. Doom With a View
8. A Glimpse of Evil
9. Vision Impossible (July 5, 2011)
Check out her website and get the complete listing of all of her books at: http://victorialaurie.com She also writes a Ghost Hunters series and another one called Oracles of Delphi Keep. We have added her Psychic Detectives Books to the Bookstore Pages Click HERE
Lyn Hamilton and Lara McClintoch
Published January 13, 2011 | Lyn Hamilton writes fiction tales about her character Lara McClintoch. Lara is not a “detective” per se but she does seem to get involved in some rather interesting situations. You wouldn’t think that an antiques dealer would come across dead bodies or go out and solve crimes but this one does. I have read several of Ms. Hamilton’s books but not all of them, yet! She includes references to old stories or myths within the region. The latest one was entitled “The Orkney Scroll” where Lara ends up going to some islands off the coast of Scotland to solve a riddle that is over 1000 years old and of course, a murder as well. Sadly, the writer passed away in 2009. Her website hasn’t been updated since 2004. But it can accessed here: http://lynhamilton.com.
Her character, Lara, travels all over the world searching for interesting antiques and ends of getting involved in a murder or two. Here is a listing of her books for you to try:
The Xibalba Murders
The African quest
The Chinese Alchemist
The Thai Amulet
The Etruscan Chimera
The Moai murders
Maltese Goddess
The Moche warrior
The celtic riddle
The Orkney Scroll
The Magyar Venus
You can order her books from our bookstore page…CLICK HERE
List of Female Detectives
Published June 23, 2010 | Wiki has a great listing of female writers and female detectives in fiction. First you should view the listing of female writers of detective fiction by clicking here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_female_detective/mystery_writers The listing is arranged alphabetically and is quite long. There are some great information about the writers and a listing of the titles of their books. Some writers have more information than others of course. If you would like to add information on your favorite writer you might want to join the wiki community and add whatever you can that will help keep other readers informed.
They also have a listing of female detective characters. This list has female detective characters from novels, short stories, television, films and video games: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_female_detective_characters. Sadly, there are not a lot of pages linked to each of these characters and wiki really could use some help beefing up those pages. So, if you see your favorite character on the list and it doesn’t have a link with more information then gather your data on your character and type it in so that we can all enjoy it. Wiki is a great resource created by all of us for all of us.
What Makes a Good Detective Story
Published January 10, 2010 | Whether the main hero is a male or female, there are certain elements of a good fictional detective story that are the same for any great tale. To me a great fiction story has a main character that has flaws and quirks. He or she must have a code that they live by. It may not be a conventional code but they live by their own set of rules. Another thing a great detective story should have is an interesting setting. It all comes down to how writer describes the surroundings in the story. The use of rich descriptive words helps the reader get into the story and be in the story. We want to feel something for the characters, to be able to root for the good guy, Finally, the good guys should always win in the end. The main reason that we read a book or listen to a story is to be entertained, to come out of ourselves for just a little while.
Some writers seem to be able to tell their tales with comparative ease while others drag you through a long convoluted story that never quite lives up to all the hype. I like stories with female leads mostly because I am female. I don’t think there are enough good female stories out there. Some of the ones that I love the most are written by such authors as J.D. Robb (a.k.a. Nora Roberts), Sara Paretsky, J.A. Jance, Dorothy Gilman, Elizabeth Peters, Sue Grafton, Nevada Barr and strangely enough James Patterson (who writes the Women’s Murder Club).
All of their detective stories can be found on the Bookstore page. Now J.D. Robb writes about a New York Detective in future New York City. Sara Paretsky writes about a female Private Detective in Chicago. J.A. Jance writes about a female Sheriff of Bisbee, Arizona. Dorothy Gilman writes about a geriatric female Spy who travels around the world having adventures beginning at age 65 or so. Elizabeth Peters writes about a female archeologist in the early 1900s that solves murders throughout Egypt. Sue Grafton writes about a female private investigator in a Santa Teresa, California. Nevada Barr writes about a Park Ranger that goes from National Park to National Park who ends of solving murders. James Patterson writes a series called the Women’s Murder Club which has 4 women friends who get together in San Francisco, California including a Homicide Detective, a Reporter, a District Attorney and the Chief Medical Examiner. Each of these writers has created a great female lead character with quirks, a code they live by and are good at their jobs. They solve crimes, right wrongs and in the end the good guys always win.
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