The female heist film.

In the spring 2016 issue of Bitch: Feminist Response to Pop Culture, Aya de Leon provides an interesting discussion of the female heist film, stating "women's heist narratives are comparatively rare" and outlining characteristics of male-centered heist films versus ones with female characters. She mentions How to Beat the High Cost of Living (1980), Set It Off (1996), Bound (1996), Sugar & Spice (2001), Demi Moore in Flawless (2007), Mad Money (2008), and the TV series Leverage (2008–12). However, some might point out omissions that have important female characters such as The Big Caper (1957) and Modesty Blaise (1966). (Thanks to the latest issue of Feminist Periodicals for bringing this article to my attention.)

O'Donnell's Modesty Blaise, BBC Radio 4 Extra.

One of the Modesty Blaise
graphic novels from Titan Books

Peter O'Donnell's Modesty Blaise and Willie Garvin try to thwart a diamond robbery in this episode kicking off series 2 of BBC Radio 4 Extra's Modesty Blaise.

Madeleine Brent/Peter O'Donnell: An Appreciation.

While most items around the Internet about the writing career of Peter O'Donnell, who died on Monday at age 90, have focused on the intrepid Modesty Blaise, only the Times of London and the Guardian have (briefly) mentioned his alter ego: Madeleine Brent, author of nine romantic suspense novels. These are splendid looks into historical periods (e.g., the Boxer Rebellion in Moonraker's Bride, 1973) with heroines who are consistent with their time yet possess enormous strength and courage. One (Heritage of Shadows, 1983) had a shocking revelation about the heroine that readers do not guess, although the clues are there for all to see (no spoilers here). The supporting characters are just as well crafted as the protagonists; a particularly delightful episode in Merlin's Keep (1977) features a family attempting to best government bureaucrats.  My sister is very fond of a cranky elderly general in Moonraker's Bride who tells one of the male characters regarding the heroine, "She's worth ten of you, you young rip.").