Janet Quin-Harkin
Janet Quin-Harkin (born 24 September 1941, Bath, Somerset[1]) is an author best known for her mystery novels for adults written under the name Rhys Bowen.
Janet Quin-Harkin | |
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Born | Bath, Somerset | 24 September 1941
Pen name | Rhys Bowen |
Occupation | novelist, dance teacher |
Nationality | British |
Education | London University |
Genre | historical mystery novels |
Website | |
rhysbowen |
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.[2] She also worked as a drama teacher and a dance teacher.[3]
In 1981, she wrote one of the first six books with which Bantam launched the Sweet Dreams series.[4]
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.[2]
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.[5] She moved to the United States when she married John Quin-Harkin.[3]
She is the parent of four children. She now divides her time between Marin County, California, and Arizona.[2]
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)
Anthologies and collections
Anthology or Collection | Contents | Publication
Date |
---|---|---|
An Apple for a Creature[9] | 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. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- See the Rhys-Bowen-Website, retrieved 1st 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".
- "An Apple for the Creature". www.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