Janet Quin-Harkin | |
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Born | (1941-09-24) 24 September 1941 (age 83) Bath, Somerset |
Pen name | Rhys Bowen |
Occupation | novelist, dance teacher |
Nationality | British |
Education | London University |
Genre | historical mystery novels |
Website | |
rhysbowen |
Janet Quin-Harkin (born 24 September 1941, Bath, Somerset) is an author best known for her mystery novels for adults written under the name Rhys Bowen.
Career
Before she began writing novels, Quin-Harkin worked in the drama department of the British Broadcasting Corporation in London and, later, for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in Sydney, Australia. She also worked as a drama teacher and a dance teacher.
In 1981, she wrote one of the first six books with which Bantam launched the Sweet Dreams series.
In the 1990s Quin-Harkin began writing mystery novels for adults under the name Rhys Bowen. She has written three series under this name: one featuring British aristocrat Lady Georgiana ("Georgie") in 1930s England; one featuring Irish immigrant Molly Murphy working as a private detective in early 1900s New York City; and one featuring a Welsh police constable named Evan Evans.
She is also author of the Boyfriend Club series for young adults featuring four freshmen girls in Alta Mesa High School (Arizona): Roni, Ginger, Justine, and Karen.
Personal life
Quin-Harkin graduated from the University of London in 1963. She moved to the United States when she married John Quin-Harkin.
She is the parent of four children. She now divides her time between Marin County, California, and Arizona.
Works as Janet Quin-Harkin
- Peter Penny's Dance (Dial Press, 1976), picture book illustrated by Anita Lobel
- Benjamin's Balloon (Parents Magazine, 1978), p.b. ill. Robert Censoni
- Septimus Bean and his Amazing Machine (Parents, 1979), p.b. illus. Art Cumings
- Magic Growing Powder (Parents, 1980), p.b. ill. Art Cumings
- Ten-boy summer (Bantam Books, 1982), Sweet Dreams Romance
- Helpful Hattie (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1983), 58 pp., ill. Susanna Natti
- Wanted—date for Saturday night (1985)
- My Best Enemy (Bantam, 1987), Sweet Dreams Romance
- The boy next door (Bantam, 1995), Love Stories 4
- Who do you love? (Bantam, 1996), Love Stories 13
- Torn apart (Bantam, 1999), Love Stories 18
- Love potion (Avon Flare, 1999), Enchanted Hearts 4, LCCN 98-94951
Works as Rhys Bowen
Constable Evan Evans series
Lady Georgiana "Georgie" series
Lady Georgiana short stories
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Molly Murphy series
Molly Murphy short stories
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Stand-alone novels
- Above the Bay of Angels (2020)
World War I novels
- The Victory Garden (2019)
World War II novels
- In Farleigh Field (2017)
- The Tuscan Child (2018)
- The Venice Sketchbook (2021)
- Where the Sky Begins (2022)
- The Paris Assignment (August 2023)
- The Rose Arbor (2024)
Anthologies and collections
Anthology or Collection | Contents | Publication
Date |
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An Apple for a Creature | Low School | Aug 2012 |
Honors
- 2000 "The Seal of the Confessional" – finalist, Agatha and Anthony Awards
- 2001 Murphy's Law – Agatha Award for Best Novel
- 2002 Death of Riley – finalist, Agatha Award for Best Novel
- 2004 "Doppelganger" – finalist, Anthony Award for best short story
- 2007 "Oh Danny Boy" – Macavity Award Sue Feder Memorial Award for Best Historical Novel
- 2008 "Please Watch Your Step" – Macavity Award for best short story
- 2009 "A Royal Pain – Macavity Award Sue Feder Memorial Award for Best Historical Novel
- 2011 Naughty in Nice – Agatha Award for Best Historical Novel
- 2017 In Farleigh Field – Agatha Award for Best Historical Novel, Left Coast Crime Lefty Award (Bruce Alexander Memorial Award for Best Historical Mystery), Macavity Award Sue Feder Memorial Award for Best Historical Novel
References
- Elizabeth Blakesley Lindsay, ed., Great Women Mystery Writers, 2nd ed. Greenwood Press, 2007, p. 27.
- ^ "Rhys Bowen: Still a place for faith in mystery writer's body of work". The Visitor. Catholic News Service. 6 June 2016. Archived from the original on 7 June 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ DeBruyne., Ammon, Bette (1993). Rip-roaring reads for reluctant teen readers. Libraries Unlimited. pp. 126. ISBN 156308094X. OCLC 44963622.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - Quin-Harkin, Janet (6 September 2014). "Why 1980s teen lit is still relevant today". The Guardian. London. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- See the Rhys-Bowen-Website, retrieved 1 December 2022.
- "Rhys Bowen: New York Times Bestselling Author". Rhys Bowen. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- "The Last Mrs. Summers by Rhys Bowen: 9780451492876 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books". PenguinRandomhouse.com. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- "The Royal Spyness Series".
- ^ "The Molly Murphy Series".
- "An Apple for the Creature". goodreads.com. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
External links
- Official website
- Interview by Claire E. White, The Internet Writing Journal (writerswrite.com/journal), 2001
- Janet Quin-Harkin at Library of Congress, with 91 library catalogue records
- Rhys Bowen (pseudonym) at LC Authorities, with 39 records, and Bowen at WorldCat
Agatha Award winners | |
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Best First Novel |
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Best Contemporary Novel |
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Best Novel |
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Best Historical Novel |
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Best Non-Fiction |
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Best Short Story |
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Best Young Adult Mystery |
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Best Children/ Young Adult Fiction |
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Malice Domestic Award for Lifetime Achievement |
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Malice Domestic Poirot Award |
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- English children's writers
- English mystery writers
- Living people
- Anthony Award winners
- Macavity Award winners
- Agatha Award winners
- 1941 births
- Writers from Bath, Somerset
- Writers from San Francisco
- Alumni of the University of London
- English women mystery writers
- Writers of historical mysteries
- 20th-century English novelists
- 20th-century English women writers
- 21st-century English novelists
- 21st-century English women writers