Step into the sun-soaked streets of Sydney, where Detective Inspector Carol Ashton, the sharp-witted lesbian protagonist of Claire McNab’s mystery series, unravels crimes with a blend of grit and heart. This trailblazing series, launched in 1988, combines pulse-pounding mysteries with a nuanced exploration of identity, making it a gem in LGBTQ+ crime fiction. Ready to meet a detective who’s as captivating as her cases?
With 17 books, the DI Carol Ashton series follows Carol, a skilled investigator, as she tackles murder, deception, and societal prejudice while navigating her personal life. McNab’s creation stands out for its bold representation and vivid Australian setting, drawing readers into a world where every clue counts.
How DI Carol Ashton Began
Claire McNab, the pseudonym of Australian author Claire Carmichael, crafted the DI Carol Ashton series after a career writing plays and textbooks. In the late 1980s, McNab, a former Sydney teacher, saw a gap in crime fiction: authentic lesbian protagonists. Thus, Carol Ashton was born in Lessons in Murder (1988), a novel that dared to center a queer woman in a genre dominated by straight, male detectives. McNab’s move to Los Angeles in 1994, inspired by love, mirrored Carol’s own journey of balancing personal and professional worlds.
The Heart of DI Carol Ashton
The series kicks off with Lessons in Murder, where Carol investigates a teacher’s gruesome death at a Sydney high school, uncovering tangled relationships and her own attraction to suspect Sybil Quade. Fatal Reunion (1989) sees Carol grappling with past loves while solving a suspicious death, blending romance with suspense. In Death Down Under (1990), she hunts the ‘Orange Strangler,’ a serial killer, against a backdrop of media frenzy. Lethal Care (2014), the finale, ties up Carol’s legacy with two linked murders.
McNab’s mysteries shine for their tight plotting and vivid Sydney backdrop, from bustling cityscapes to coastal cliffs. Themes of secrecy, identity, and resilience weave through Carol’s journey as a closeted detective in a conservative era. Her relationships, especially with Sybil, add emotional depth, while her professional prowess keeps the stakes high. The series’ unapologetic queerness and feminist undertones make it both a gripping read and a cultural touchstone.
Why DI Carol Ashton Resonates
The DI Carol Ashton series broke ground by placing a lesbian detective at its heart, offering representation when queer characters were often sidelined or stereotyped. Fans praise Carol’s complexity—flawed yet formidable, she’s a hero who feels real. McNab’s work, recognized with the 2006 Alice B. Medal, inspired later LGBTQ+ crime fiction and remains a beloved classic. Its blend of mystery and social commentary continues to captivate readers seeking diverse, meaningful stories.
- First Published: 1988 (Lessons in Murder)
- Total Books: 17
- Setting: Sydney, Australia
- Award: 2006 Alice B. Medal
Grab Lessons in Murder and dive into DI Carol Ashton’s thrilling world of crime, courage, and connection!