Question & Answer

Based on this selection, which two of these details make Barbara Neely a trailblazing author in mystery fiction?

Based on this selection, which two of these details make Barbara Neely a trailblazing author in mystery fiction?

A She wrote more than a dozen mystery novels while she was legally blind.

B She was a minority female author in a genre dominated by white men.

C Her protagonist, a female sleuth, is an African American domestic worker.

D Her novels, among the most widely read, were published anonymously.

E Her detective novels became course material for law students at Yale University.

1 Answer

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Quizzma TeamDecember 28, 2025

The two details that make Barbara Neely a trailblazing author in mystery fiction are:

B She was a minority female author in a genre dominated by white men.

C Her protagonist, a female sleuth, is an African American domestic worker.

Explanation: Barbara Neely’s significance in mystery fiction stems from her role as a minority female author in a predominantly white male genre, challenging the status quo. Additionally, her focus on an African American female protagonist as a domestic worker brings unique perspectives and representation to the genre, making her work groundbreaking.