Sleuth and the Goddess

Rowland presents a detailed exploration of how the archetypes of ancient goddesses Hestia Artemis Athena and Aphrodite breathe into and shape female-authored detective fiction. Representing aspects of characterisation not bound by gender the book examines how these archetypes emerge in themes like the home and hearth hunting survival and desire. Rowland assesses numerous examples from a range of works providing a clear illustration of each archetype and illuminating aspects of femininity psyche and being. This uniquely interdisciplinary work of literary analysis sheds light on the popularity and underlying mystique of the genre.