And as Amanda Cross, she was the author of a series of well-received and popular detective novels.

There are no drive-by shootings in the academic New York mysteries of Amanda Cross.

She reads the mysteries of Amanda Cross and Dorothy L. Sayers and loves old movies.

But Amanda Cross (the pen name of the literary critic Carolyn G. Heilbrun) does a cleverer job by giving breath to Harriet.

Afraid that writing murder mysteries would kill her chances for tenure, Heilbrun took a pseudonym, "Amanda Cross."

Exactly why remains an academic mystery fit for Amanda Cross.

At 72, in good health and still working away, she recently completed four detective stories in four months under her literary pseudonym, Amanda Cross.

Important feminist literary critic and theorist who, as Amanda Cross, was also a much-loved writer of detective stories.

Carolyn Gold Heilbrun (1926-2003), author who wrote mystery novels under the pen name of Amanda Cross.

Ms. Fansler, "without children, unmarried, unconstrained by the opinions of others, rich and beautiful," is the creation of Amanda Cross.