"Girl Detectives and Gothic Femininity is an engaging and much-needed study of one of contemporary crime fiction's most exciting and insightful authors."

Bernice M. Murphy, Trinity College Dublin

"Smartly written and critically astute, this timely book opens up new areas of debate around popular culture, gender, and genre. Using novels by Megan Abbott as case studies, Bealer takes the reader through a series of chapters examining key literary and critical works. Exploring themes such as fairy tale, girl power, motherhood, and liberation, and their representation in Abbott's writing, this book is must-read for scholars, researchers, and students."

Charlotte Beyer, University of Gloucestershire

"An important study on representations of women and girls in a genre historically defined by 'hard-boiled' masculinity. Bealer's work on Megan Abbott seeks to fill a gap in scholarship on crime fiction-a gap that should be occupied by the domestic noir and gothic novels addressing women's experiences that have grown in popularity in recent years. This study redresses the lack of critical attention to feminist works in the crime fiction genre that directly challenge sexist and misogynist cultural narratives and offer points of resistance. Bealer's clear and accessible writing style makes this book essential reading for scholars and students alike."

Anna Brecke, Rhode Island School of Design