Miss Frances Baird, Detective

Description

Published in 1906, Miss Frances Baird, Detective, by Reginald Wright Kauffman, is one of the first detective novels to feature a lady protagonist – we are now used to the idea of a lady investigating, but back then, at the beginning of the 20th century, many years before Miss Marple got down to work to investigate her first case, casting a lady into the role of the detective was a truly sensational idea.

Miss Frances Baird works as a detective for the Watkins Agency in New York City. She and her colleague are on an undercover mission – they are supposed to go to the Maples to guard some diamonds during the festivities organized to celebrate the wedding of James Deneen Jr., the eldest son of a rich and powerful man. The task seemed simple – all that the two detectives have to do is to go to the venue and keep an eye on the diamonds – , but the events take a gloomy turn and Frances starts investigating right away.

The book is very entertaining not only because it features an eventful and suspenseful plot, but also because of the investigating detective’s special take on the events. Baird is not only clever, but she is also attractive and not shy to use to her femininity and her beauty to solve problems. She considers herself a woman first and a detective only afterwards, which adds an even more feminine touch to the storytelling.

This is the only novel by Reginald Wright Kauffman to feature Miss Baird. However, if you liked the sparkling, humorous style of this book, you can try Kauffman’s other writings such as The Things that Are Caesar’s, The Chasm, The House of Bondage or a Bachelor’s Guide to Matrimony – some of his books are lightweight, others more substantial, but they are all great.
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