The detective genre, or "novela negra, " is one of Spain's most popular types of fiction: these books, many written by female writers, have obtained best-selling status and been translated into multiple languages. "Killing Carmens, " the first book-length study of women's crime writing in Spain, offers a fresh approach to the study of Spanish crime fiction--combining literary criticism with sociological, feminist, and criminological theory. This innovative multidisciplinary volume examines how Spanish female authors have engaged with the traditionally masculine genre of crime writing, turning it into a literary form that has been used to address issues of particular concern to women in Spanish society, including debates about nationalism, gendered violence, and the role and position of their countrywomen. The result is a thought-provoking and fascinating read that will appeal to students of Hispanic and Catalan literature, as well as gender and cultural studies.