Myth and Ritual in Women's Detective Fiction

The relationship between traditional myths and fairytales and current fiction novels featuring women as crime-solvers is examined in this work. Using theories from Joseph Campbell, C.G. Jung and others, the author asserts that plots and imagery in these novels conform to quest narratives outlined in classical myths and traditional fairytales. Narcissus, Medusa, Orpheus and Orestes are a few of the figures emerging in todays mystery fiction. Among the mystery authors discussed are Patricia Cornwell, Amanda Cross, Sue Grafton, P.D. James, Sara Paretsky and Julie Smith. After establishing the anatomy of a mystery in Chapter One, the work covers many myths, rituals and rites associated with mysteries, including myths of identity, and religion, and rites of initiation.