Are there no books with female protagonists 40 and over???

[Frikonastick]

It’s doing my head in! Please recommend me a book that centres around a woman 40 or over. Please. I beg of you.

After you were gone by Sue Miller. Really worth a read. One of only a handful of books have kept to re read.

I am reading big little lies, most of the characters are aged around 40, the main characters are women.

Magpie Lane by Lucy Atkins

The Godmother by Hannelore Cayre

Apologies if someone else has already mentioned this book as I haven't read the whole thread.

Superb book and a bit different to the norm.

@Frikonastick if you like fantasy definitely try the Discworld Witches books!

Britt-Marie was Here by Fredrik Backman

Simon Brett's Fotheringhay series. Light murder mysteries.

Fotheringham

@Frikonastick

Anything in sci-fi/ fantasy? I like to be well rounded 😁

The Chronicles of St Mary's series is sort of sci fi/historical romp/time travel. The protagonist starts off young mind you, but it's a long series and she ages pretty quickly.

Great thread!

Scabby Queen by Kirsten Innes

Later Marian Keyes books - her main protagonist usually feels like she's the same age as Marian herself so start at the end and work your way back!

Rosamund Pilcher for a nice gentle read.

Imperfect Women by Araminta Hall

Anything by Jenny Eclair

Later Lisa Jewell - she's another one who is writing older leads as she gets older herself, which I love.

Nicci French had a good series all with days of the week in the title.

The Detective’s Daughter series by Lesley Thomson

The Thursday Murder Club - Richard Osman. It's so good!

The protagonist of "Rimrunners" by C J Cherryh is 35. That's sci-fi.
And Maureen Smith from Heinlein's future history books starts out as a teenager and ends up over 100.

Try thriller writer Christopher Brookmyre. Can’t remember names but several of his books have female protagonists such as police officer or there was one about a surgeon and all his female characters are ‘real’ and usually strong and funny. He’s a feminist and a good speaker. I have enjoyed hearing him speak at Edinburgh Book Festival.

Agatha Raisin is 53

Oo. And if you haven’t read ‘Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day’ ( Persephone Press’ save it for a day when you’re down and need a lift. Wonderfully cheering and life enhancing. Also American author Fannie Flagg - I like ‘Cant wait to get to heaven’.

I think someone already suggested Miss Marple stories, by Agatha Christie.

Marjorie Fleming in the Aline Templeton books. She's a police woman but there's plenty character background about her husband and grown up kids.

Mrs. Pollifax series by Dorothy Gilman; they're a little dated (nothing horribly offensive in the ones I've read, just old-fashioned) but very funny. She's like a slightly sassier American version of Miss Marple.

Further votes for Old Baggage and Girl, Woman, Other

Also Grown Ups by Marian Keyes

Chocolat Series by Joanne Harris, not sure if she’s over 40 at the beginning but certainly is by the time you get to Strawberry Thief

Rodham the counter Factual about Hilary Clinton takes you through from college aged to in her 60s

Place marking for ideas . Thank you

Thanks everyone, I realise from this thread I’m not as equal opportunity a reader as I thought! I used to read crime and mystery when I was younger but haven’t for years and years. I just found it weirdly like reading 100 thousand ways to kill and hate women. But I will definitely make more of an effort with these kindly offered recommendations. Honestly thanks so much, this thread is a treat.

“The Chronicles of St Mary's series is sort of sci fi/historical romp/time travel. The protagonist starts off young mind you, but it's a long series and she ages pretty quickly. “

Lonny beat me to it! If you’ve not yet read Jodi Taylor, you’re in for a treat. The characters stay in your mind and you learn a bit of history along the way. Jodi seems to be a bit of a marmite writer, mind so you’ll either love her world of St Mary’s or wonder what people are making such a fuss about. I love her world!

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