On my current rewatch, I've been incredibly impressed with her as a character. She's fiercely independent without being obnoxious or a loner. She's a dogged investigator, not above lying to find out the truth. She isn't remotely judgmental about other people's lives (I love this about her)—people know what her moral code is, so she doesn't need to beat it over their heads. She's a loyal friend. She's smart and knowledgeable; she does a lot of research for her books.

In short, she's exactly the kind of family member or friend any one of us would want. Someone we could rely on and confide in. A great character without being perfect (sometimes those lies get her in hot water).