Talk

The Adventures of Hannie Richards by Hilary Bailey if it's still in print. A bit of its time maybe - late 1980s I think - but from memory, a good read and does what you're looking for.

Do you like thrillers? Stasi Child (set in the former DDR) is good, and has a female protagonist.

Or more literary - The Wolf Border by Sarah Hall. Lots of stuff happens!

What's wrong with fantasy op??

Jasper Fforde "Wednesday Next" series is alternative history. Daft but good

Nomad by James Swallow

Not a female protagonist but there are female characters who have their role. Lots of action

I am Pilgrim is a blockbuster in a book

Thanks for the suggestions.

Nothing really wrong with fantasy, Momma, just in the mood for something a bit more earthbound iyswim

Was just going to say if its the lack of decent female characters I have a recommendation was all

I try to alternate my fantasy with horror and reality and smush

Elizabeth Arthur - Antarctic Navigation
Annie Proulx - That Old Ace in the Hole
Barbara Kingsolver - The Bean Trees, Pigs in Heaven

Stef Penney, The Tenderness of Wolves

Also lots of recommendations on the 50 Books thread for Rush Oh! by Shirley Barrett

I've just remembered this one cos of the historical fiction thread: The Beacon at Alexandria by Gillian Bradshaw. The narrator is a woman who trains as a doctor in 4th century AD Alexandria and passes hersel off as a eunuch to do so - it's not weird in context. She ends up as a doctor in the Roman army. It's really good!

Great, now I get to check them out, looking forward to it!

Have a look at Life after Life by Kate Atkinson too.

Patricia Cornwell Kay Scarpetta series.

I really recommend the Kinsey Millhone series by Sue Grafton. Kinsey is a private detective in 1980's California but the stories aren't at all dated. The first one is called A is for Alibi and they go all the way through the alphabet up to Y which is being released in August. Great detective stories with a very likeable protagonist who is female but not "girly".

Cool! More recommendations.

I found Hannie Richards on Amazon NomNom and it was delivered yesterday. When I was young my df read The Thirty Nine Steps to us on holiday and I thought it was the best thing ever, so I'm looking forward to this! Thanks everyone.

If you enjoy Kinsey Millhone @DubiousCredentials you should try both Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich and the VI Warshawski books by Sara Paretsky. VI is a lot more gritty, her series starts in the 80s and goes right up to the present time.

These kind of involve sci-fi (of a sort) but have a great female protagonist and history.

Recommended to me by Mumsnet - the St Mary's Chronicles by Jodi Taylor. Really good fun if you don't want anything too heavy for a change. Best to read in order.

Another vote for Wolf Border. Stuff happens quite a bit in that.
Code name Verity. The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair. Anything by Sara Paretsky.

They came to Baghdad by Agatha Christie has travel, adventure, action, mystery and a female protagonist.

Ah, now I read They Came to Baghdad in my teens. Quite fancy reading it again. Thanks for the reminder.