|
It’s a genre that is magnetic as it is enthralling, and people are drawn to it like moths to a flame. Crime fiction, especially the books that tell a good story and make you sweat till the end to reveal the villain, are natural best sellers. A rainy afternoon stuck at home, a boring flight where you have nothing else to do, or even a free weekend when you prefer to stay at home curled up with a good thriller rather than socialize – there is no fixed time to read a great crime fiction novel.
There are two genres of crime fiction – one in which you don’t know who the perpetrator is till the end, and the other in which you (the reader) know who did it, and only need to see how the hero/heroine solves the crime. In my book, the author of a whodunit is pretty important to the story, because there are some who are detail-oriented and others who are thought-driven. So, according to me, here are a few authors I rank highly when it comes to crime fiction:
- Jeffrey Deaver: One of the few modern day authors who really know the ins and outs of crime and the ways to solve it; Deaver’s protagonist Lincoln Rhyme makes things more interesting because he is a quadriplegic who is tied down to a wheelchair and can move just one finger in the area below his neck. He is ably helped by his love interest and ace detective Amelia Sachs. With one of them in the field and the other using just his brains to solve the crime, the perps have to stay one step ahead if they are to beat Rhyme and his team. Deaver’s books are intriguing because of the detail that goes into the solving of the crime.
- Agatha Christie: Arguably the greatest crime fiction writer of our times, Christie wrote many books with different protagonists. Be it the dapper Hercule Poirot who solved crimes using just his “grey cells” (he deplored the legwork that goes with normal methods of solving crime) to the quirky and old Jane Marple who solves crime with just her interest in other people’s affairs, Christie makes you wait till the last page to reveal who the culprit is. Sometimes, like in the book Death on the Nile, she proves how the one person who could not have committed the crime actually did it.
- Earl Stanley Gardner: Now most people know that Gardner wrote about law and the workings of a courtroom. But Perry Mason, that enterprising and unconventional trial lawyer, is always the one who solves the case. He does it through a series of arguments, sometimes taking risks and tampering with the evidence just barely within the boundaries of the law. But he always manages to come out trumps in the end, usually a very dramatic and thrilling end, because of his intuition and his dogged determination to save his client, usually a buxom and beautiful blonde or brunette.
- Arthur Conan Doyle: If I left this great man and Sherlock Holmes out of this list, it would not be a list of great crime fiction writers at all. Holmes manages to crack even the most bizarre mysteries that are narrated by his friend Dr. Watson. Although they are a bit verbose, Doyle’s writing does hold you spellbound as you wait to see how and why the crime was committed, and of course, who did it.
Who says science is for nerds? These scientific lady bloggers keep it cool and show that science is not just for geeky guys with pocket protectors. Readers will get a fresh perspective on science straight from an intelligent female mind, and maybe a science lesson or two.
- FemaleScienceProfessor – What distinguishes this professor of the physical sciences? She has honest talk on education, feminism, and ethics, and keeps open communication with all of her readers.
- Bug Girl’s Blog – It’s all about “entomology…gardening…ranting” and “nerdery” on this quirky site. She muses on everything from moving to migratory butterfly research, and will keep you hitting the refresh button.
- Living the Scientific Life – What can we learn from the scientific life? How to improve our lives during unemployment, Antarctica research and Biblical accuracy.
- Of Two Minds – Here’s the musings of a neuroscience PhD candidate. She examines the relationship of science, politics, culture, money, medicine, and religion.
- The Female Perspective of Computer Science – Who says computer science is a boys’ only club? The Female Perspective of Computer Science delves into augmented reality, academic research and how to make programming fun.
- Warped Passages – This blog is based on the book of the same name. This science lady ponders the mysteries of the universe, as well as offering insight into the creation of the book.
- Female Fitness and Nutrition Scientist – She’s got a PhD in Exercise Science and she’s not afraid to use it. She offers useful chucks of information on pregnancy, protein shakes, and sore muscles.
- Women in Science – Like the name says, this blog is all about women’s roles in science throughout the years. Expects posts on science carnivals, up and coming researchers, science education, and more.
- Science and Supermodels – What do sexiness and science have to do with each other? This blogger shows that it’s quite a bit, dishing about stem cell possibilities for breast enhancements and liposuction, as well as a “smart bra” that enhances breasts only when the woman likes who she’s chatting with.
- Sciencewomen – Here’s the blog of a scientist and engineer following the challenge to be the change you wish to see in the world. She talks about academia, summer mornings, and offers commentary on current events.
Feeling smarter? We bet you are. So smart, in fact, you could probably teach a high school science class just from these top 10 female science blogs. Just remember to refresh the page so you don’t teach the same lessons everyday.
|