Female Sleuths

I've been asked to be a part of a colloquium on March 31 at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green. The subject is female sleuths and, trying to get myself up to speed, I asked the folks at the Dorothy L list to tell me some of their favorites and what they look for in a female sleuth. I invite those of you who are mystery readers to do the same.

I have are 97 female sleuths listed so far -- well, one of them, Donna Andrews' Turing Hopper, is a computer with a female orientation. Their occupations include a park ranger, a forensic pathologist, a caterer, and a domestic diva. There are two English professors, lots of cops, a judge, several assistant DAs, many, many Private Investigators, a dairy farmer, a blacksmith, a bounty hunter, pool hustler, salvage tug operator, bloodhound trainer/handler, waitress, and any number of little old ladies with no apparent means of support.

I tried to copy and paste the list -- all three pages of authors, sleuths, and occupations -- into this post but Blogger rejected it. If any of you want a copy, let me know and I'll send it to you as an attachment.

UPDATE: Blogger did let me post the list, slightly scrunched, into a comment (see below.) A very long comment. Go figure

But, for those of you who read mysteries, I'd like to see your thoughts on female protagonists in mysteries. Who do you like and why? What (no need to name names) don't you like about some female protags in mysteries?