Kinsey Millhone, for me.
Karen Sisco, from Out of Sight (both the film and the novel).
How about Barbara Havers, from Elizabeth George’s Lynley series? I like her because she is determined, passionate and good at her job, and she doesn’t really care about her appearence, and has no sexual interest in her partner…
Lucy Bates, Hill Street Blues
Benson on SVU. The show is basically crap, but I like her and her door-kicking skills.
Kay Howard, Homicide. And from The Wire, Kima Greggs, of course!
Clarice is for sure my favourite, though, if she counts.
I never considered literary, so add Eve Dallas to my list.
Agreed! She gets more bad ass as the series goes on.
I have to add Marlene Ciampi from the Tanenbaum/Gruber books
Leona Okazki, of the anime Tank Police.
She’s a cop! In a tank!
Her motto: DEATH TO THE BAD GUYS!
Yes, Havers! She and Lynley have a very interesting and complex relationship and I hope Elizabeth George is cranking out yet another tome because right now all bets are off.
I knew a youngish guy who had the most enormous crush on Kim Delaney’s detective on NYPD Blue. He said he was almost unbearably excited when she marched a wrongdoer by the back of the collar into the squad room or put him into the car. The strange thing is, this Kim Delaney fan was gay!
I’d also add Zoe from the first seasons of MI-5 (Spooks). She was pretty bad-ass.
Another vote for V.I. Warshawski.
I really like Thursday Next, having recently discovered Jasper Fforde’s series.
Lt. Jacqueline “Jack” Daniels from J. A. Konrath’s series of mystery novels set in Chicago, and all named for an adult beverage (Whiskey Sour, Bloody Mary, Rusty Nail, and Dirty Martini, so far)…TRM
Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson of the L.A.P.D! (The Closer)
Though Lt. Van Buren is a close second.
N’th’ing Kinsey Millhone, VI Warshawski, Faith Yokas and Stephanie Plum and adding Magdalena Yoder, of the Pennsylvania Dutch mysteries by Tamar Myers. She’s not a detective, but she solves all the crime in ridiculously crime-ridden Hernia, PA because of the inept local constabulary. She’s cheated death umpty-ump times, and has done so in sensible shoes, a modest length skirt and without ever losing her Mennonite demeanor.
Maybe she’s not as “tough” as the others mentioned, but…
Beadie Russell.
I dislike all things CSI, but back when she played a Secret Service agent on The West Wing, Jorja Fox got my vote!
Emma Peel.
whoops, Faith Yokas was from Third Watch. I was getting my cop shows I loved long after everyone else had pretty much forgotten them mixed up.
I liked Diane from NYPD Blue, but I don’t think she was all that especially tough.
I like Juliet O’Hara from Psych, too.
Weird.
I was thinking about starting a thread specifically about Emma Peel. I did a search and found 2 recent threads that pertain and mention her. A two-fer.
The Diana Rigg version of Emma Peel was fantastic. Sexy, smart, cool, capable of beating you to a pulp or just plain shooting you. Liked men, but didn’t depend upon them. I was just a lad of maybe 10 or so when she started showing up on the telly, but I knew I wanted to see more of her and more women like her. rowr. 