Ripped from the headlines of 1914, Girl Waits with Gun is the first book in the unmissable historical mystery series by Amy Stewart.

Constance Kopp is everything we want in the first lady police deputy of Paterson, New Jersey: bold, smart, and desperate to keep a roof over her sisters’ heads. When a wealthy factory owner hits and totals her buggy, she has no choice but to ask him to cover the repairs. Unfortunately, he repays them with harassment, including vandalism, kidnapping threats, and arson.

Constance stands up for her family, becoming New Jersey’s first female deputy sheriff along the way.

Amy Stewart based this novel on the true story of Constance Kopp, and her website is packed with pictures, biographies, and gems from her exhaustive research. Aside from the excellent historical details and humor, I really enjoyed Constance, who is brave and full of resolve despite her fear and frustration.