Edited by: Stella Duffy and Lauren Henderson

These are the bad girls we've been waiting for. They're tough enough to take on thugs, tender enough to be moved to tears. Half Philip Marlowe, half femme fatale, their morals are questionable and their attitudes need adjustment. They're tarts. And they are the heroines of this collection...

Contents:

• Introduction
• Revenge is the Best Revenge by Chris Niles
• Metamorphosis by Val McDermid
• Stormy, Mon Amour by Vicki Hendricks
• No Parachutes by Karen Moline
• Enough Was Enough by Martina Cole
• Queen of Mean by Liza Cody
• What He Needed by Laura Lippman
• Alice Opens the Box by Denise Mina
• The Convenience Boy by Sujata Massey
• The Wrong Train by Jenny Colgan
• The Man by Katy Munger
• I Do Like To Be Beside the Seaside by Jessica Adams
• Tragic Heroines Tell All by Lauren Henderson
• Necessary Women by Karin Slaughter
• Africa by Jenny Siler
• Take, Foe Example, Meatpie by Jen Banbury
• Labia Lobelia by Lisa Jewell
• Pussy Galore by Liz Evans
• Martha Grace by Stella Duffy
• The Diary of Sue Meaner, Marooned! Contestant by Sparkle Hayter