Title: Myth and ritual in women's detective fiction
Description: "The relationship between myth and fairytale and current novels featuring women as crime-solvers is examined in this work. Using theories from Jung, Joseph Campbell and others, the author finds that the plots and imagery of these novels conform to quest narratives outlined in classical myths and traditional fairytales.".

"Narcissus, Medusa, Orpheus and Orestes are a few of the figures re-emerging in today's 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."--BOOK JACKET.
Subjects: American Detective and mystery stories, American fiction, English Detective and mystery stories, English fiction, Fairy tales in literature, Folklore in literature, History and criticism, Myth in literature, Mythology in literature, Rites and ceremonies in literature, Ritual in literature, Women and literature, Women authors, Women detectives in literature, Detective and mystery stories, history and criticism, American fiction, women authors, English fiction, women authors
Places: English-speaking countries