I find Sara Paretsky's V.I. Warshawski Series very readable. The first Indemnity Only makes it clear that this is an homage to Film Noir and hardboiled detectives with V.I. Warshawski meeting her client in a darkened office (the fuses have blown)Lite only by the neon of a nearby bar.

In her subesquent adventures V I is beaten up. shoot at and refuses to given in with a tenacity Marlow would admire. I like the slow march of technology through the series in the first book she has a manual typewriter. by the last she conducts internet searchs and has a mobile phone.
Throughout she grows even more cynical as she battles against a sea of corruption, causing it seems only minor ripples ( )

Blood Shot is listed in Primary Book List as Title