Kick Ass Heroines

They seem to be lacking a bit in the mystery genre. There's a few, sure, but not very many and even the toughest in the mystery genre tend to get their panties in a bunch in ways that Phillip Marlowe and Sam Spade (and countless other men) never did.

I found where all the kick ass women are hanging out though. They're over in the urban fantasy book shelves. Maybe shelved in horror (which of course overlaps urban fantasy.) And the kick ass women don't all have superpowers, etc.

Why is it that the mystery genre hasn't embraced the uber-tough, ultra-cool female heroine? (I'll skip my usual rants on why most of the mystery females do not meet my definition.)

Sometimes I wonder if it's an age thing. Seems to me that the young kids are writing the urban fantasy. Of course, over here in Mystery Land, *I'm* still just a kid! Some one find me a mystery author younger than me.

But youngters aren't really getting into the mystery genre. There's some sort of stigma. Maybe lack of good movies? Maybe too populated by older characters? Maybe there's just not enough sex appeal?

Mystery book shelves are dominated by long running series' by people who are old enough to be my mother. And, to a large extent, I think that affects the things they write. Nothing wrong with that. I'd just love to see some more younger writers, younger protagonists. And maybe a few women who could compete with those urban fantasy babes.