Haha! I haven't read any non-CS non-LR EBD yet, although I think I've got Elizabeth the Gallant and possibly Jean of Storms on my bookshelves (and I think some are in the onedrive too, aren't they?). Should get around to that sometime soon.
My Marlovian pondering is prompted by mornington's dislike, really. I do agree that they are all quite similarly smug, selfish and self-satisfied (with the possible exception of Ann). Weirdly I am capable of finding this perfectly agreeable in all cases except Nicola. (Rowan is super capable, so I'm happy for her to be self-satisfied - it seems deserved. I like capable. The others, I guess I see a weird charm in it.)
Anyway, that's my own opinions and not the point. What I am wondering is whether AF likes/approves of them? I think if I had come at this from any angle other than a CS starting point, it's not a question that would even occur to me - it's quite EBD-specific to have such obvious favourites among the cast. Reading that (excellent) fanfic, it's very very clear that the author likes Nicola and doesn't like Lawrie or Ginty, for example - and that feels potentially authentic AF for me, but then I've only read three of her books (and each of those once only), so happy to be corrected.
Is it the point that they're all similarly problematic? Does AF go in for the 'these are the good characters' thing the way EBD does, but with more nuance - or not at all?