Modern mysteries with a heroine show males as supporting characters with roles like suspects or may show them as the crime- committer. Other females add to the suspect list, or may try to help the lead in solving the case. Most mysteries don t outwardly express the gender issue, nor do they try to break free the characters from certain stereotypes. Hollywood and film is trying, and are somewhat beginning to succeed at this task. The Bone Collector has a good start.
Gender is topic of importance in present-day and earlier mysteries.
It just needs to be expanded. Mysteries shouldn t stereotype due to sex or any other factor for that matter. Breaking free of stereotypes and letting the roles of leads be switched lead to a more interesting mystery, and that s what the audience wants.