Top 5 Crime Short Stories with Female Villains and Heroes

 Crime short stories or crime in general do not generally bring to mind the image of women in reference to the heroes or villains. It’s much more common to see women as the prey or the victim of crimes. Some of the women in these stories are to be cheered on for their bringing of justice and others are to be feared and loathed due to their wickedness. No damsels in distress in this list! 

5. “Sundown” by Sheena Kamal in The Perfect Crime. 

The protagonist is a full dimensional, part native, part middle-eastern lead female character with quirks, an understanding of humans, street smarts, secrets and biases against her. She’s in a racist filled town, warned about her “brown sugar”,  just trying to get out when she encounters Raquel, a child that needs help, a latina girl who has been kidnapped and drugged. She sets aside her own fears to be the brave adult and save Raquel and Elias. Among the realities of being othered and unwelcomed, the unnamed protagonist becomes a vigilante for the children and saves both of them from the predator who is trafficking children. Read this one for an action packed, success story with a woman of color saving innocent children, but doesn’t consider herself a “savior”. 

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4. “Rhymes with Prey” by Jeffery Deaver & John Sandford in Faceoff.

The women NYPD detectives in this short story are quick-minded, a little snarky and work together in a positive way, without jealousy or feud. Lily is described as “a nut cutter they called when nuts seriously needed to be cut” (150), even toward the chief of detectives. Unfortunately, the victims in the story are also women, but it feels like a sigh of relief when Lily and Amelia have a hand in taking the murderer down. Read this one for lots of twists and turns, a unit working together for a layered case, Lily and Amelia going undercover to catch the bad guy,  justice for the latina women who were murdered, and a glimpse into a few disturbed minds. 

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3. “Infernal Night” by Heather Graham and Paul Wilson in Faceoff. 

Sometimes you want the bad guy to be a woman. Sometimes revenge is sweet and that’s just what “Infernal Night” provides. Madame de Medici had something stolen from her, something powerful and the phrase “‘Heav’n has no Rage, like Love to Hatred turn’d,/Nor Hell a Fury like a Woman scorn’d’” (217) rings true in this short story. Her outward wish that she will be happy to see it on the wrist of the man who wished to acquire it out from under her comes true, in the most twisted of ways.  If you’re looking for a story with some magic, a set up, a dark mystery and revenge found, this is the story for you. 

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2. “The Land of Milk and Honey” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia in The Perfect Crime. 

Now, if it’s murder you want, “The Land of Milk and Honey” in the guise of a Cinderella-esque (almost) love story, then Ofelia and Arturos story will quench that thirst. The story begins with sexism and extreme oppression of the women, but one woman Ofelia breaks the mold. She keeps up the tradition of “A woman’s place is in the home” (19), but in a dark manner. However, she has grown accustomed to the house and the safety, whether oppressive or not, it provides.  If you want to be surprised, re-read for hints of wickedness and sinful thoughts, then this is the crime story for you.

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1. “Clout Chaser” by Rachel Howzell Hall in The Perfect Crime. 

Number one has to go to the most heinous woman on the list. Unassuming and seemingly innocent Andi, tugs at reader’s heartstrings and may make one shake their head in disbelief of the naivety in the beginning of this short story. However, as time progresses and pages turn, one would likely lose compassion for Andi, an attention seeking social media addict, obsessed until the very end with social media clout, “How many ‘likes would I get for that? Can you ‘go viral; on neighborhood watch sites?” (199) she asks herself. Once readers know the secret she keeps for Lucas, all empathy is out the window. If it’s modernity, social commentary, and obsession that you’re looking for, this is the short story for you.

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Whether it’s women heroes or villains you're looking for, this list won’t steer you wrong. Find all of these short stories in The Perfect Crime, edited by Vaseem Khan and Maxim Jakubowski and Faceoff, edited by David Baldacci. Witness women saving or ruining the day, and remember not all women are damsels in distress.