The most recommended femme fatale books

Who picked these books? Meet our 22 experts.

22 authors created a book list connected to femme fatale, and here are their favorite femme fatale books.
Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

What type of femme fatale book?

Organized crime Clear all

Queenpin

By Megan E. Abbott,

Book cover of Queenpin

Halley Sutton Author Of The Lady Upstairs

From my list on female-driven noir novels.

By Halley Sutton Author

Why am I passionate about this?

My first clue that I was a crime writer in the making was that on nights I couldn’t sleep growing up, I would Wikipedia serial killers. (I promise I’m nice and normal!) When I discovered crime novels—specifically, those with a strong noir influence—I was hooked. My favorite definition of noir, which comes from the author Laura Lippman, is “Dreamers become schemers,” and to me, that’s the story of America. It’s what I’ve been interested in exploring in my own books, The Lady Upstairs and The Hurricane Blonde. I hope you enjoy the women who are dreamer-schemers in these books as much as I do!

Halley's book list on female-driven noir novels

Book cover of Kill for Love Book cover of My Sister, the Serial Killer Book cover of Miami Purity Book cover of More Than You'll Ever Know Book cover of Queenpin

Halley Sutton Why did Halley love this book?

One of Megan Abbott’s early gems, this book dragged me down into the muck of midcentury noir, and I LOVED IT. When I was first diving into the genre of noir, I was aching for more female representation (besides the evil femme fatale or the Girl Friday you see pop up in so much of the classic noir literature).

This book feels both modern and like a throwback, with women in the driver’s seat for once. This is a book I reread when I need a boost as a writer to remember why I love writing and why I love noir specifically—it’s short, but it packs a mighty punch. 

Queenpin

By Megan E. Abbott,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Queenpin as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

By the author of Dare Me and The End of Everything

A young woman hired to keep the books at a down-at-the-heels nightclub is taken under the wing of the infamous Gloria Denton, a mob luminary who reigned during the Golden Era of Bugsy Siegel and Lucky Luciano. Notoriously cunning and ruthless, Gloria shows her eager young protĂ©gĂ©e the ropes, ushering her into a glittering demimonde of late-night casinos, racetracks, betting parlors, inside heists, and big, big money. Suddenly, the world is at her feet—as long as she doesn't take any chances, like falling for the wrong guy. As the


Explore
Topics
Genres