Away in a Manager by Rhys Bowen

August 2016

Rhys Bowen was born in Bath, England, of a family that was half Welsh, half English. She was educated at London University and then began her career with the BBC, where she became a drama studio manager. She had made up stories all her life. While working on a boring play she decided to write a play of her own. With the bravado of a 22-year-old, she marched into the office of the head of BBC drama and handed him the script. Two days later he summoned her and told her that they were going to produce the play. Rhys has never looked back.

Molly Murphy Mysteries

A feisty yet resourceful Irish immigrant woman investigates intricately plotted mysteries and deals with an ever-dramatic and complicated personal life in these charming and atmospheric historical mysteries set in early 20th-century New York City. The lushly rendered period settings, well-developed characters, and suspenseful, fast-paced plots will keep historical mystery fans hooked.

1.    Murphy's law (Sep 2001)
2.    Death of Riley (Dec 2002)
3.    For the love of Mike (Dec 2003)
4.    In like Flynn (Feb 2005)
5.    Oh Danny boy (Mar 2006)
6.    In Dublin's fair city (Mar 2007)
7.    Tell me, pretty maiden (Mar 2008)
8.    In a gilded cage (Mar 2009)
9.    The last illusione (Mar 2010)
10. Bless the bride (Mar 2011)
11. Hush now, don't you cry (Mar 2012)
12. The family way (Mar 2013)
13. City of darkness and light (Mar 2014)
14. The edge of dreams (Mar 2015)
15. Away in a manger (Nov 2015)
16. Time of fog and fire (Mar 2016)

Series Read-alikes:

Fremont Jones mysteries by Dianne Day

Reason:  Both historical series feature strong willed young women who work as private detectives in the late nineteenth century. These cozy mysteries are fast paced, have a strong sense of place, and have likable characters. -- Merle Jacob

Gaslight mysteries by Victoria Thompson

          Reason:  Though Molly Murphy begins as an Irish immigrant fleeing a murder charge and Sarah Brandt of the Gaslight mysteries is a midwife, both are strong, determined women. These character-driven, detailed historical mysteries are set in a well-depicted early 1900s Manhattan. -- Shauna Griffin

Bryant and May mysteries by Christopher Fowler

Reason:  The darkly humorous, occult-inflected Bryant and May mysteries are set in London during and after World War II and the straightforward Molly Murphy tales are set in early 1900s New York; both series feature idiosyncratic sleuths and rich period detail. -- Mike Nilsson

Maisie Dobbs novels by Jacqueline Winspear

Reason:  The Molly Murphy and Maisie Dobbs historical mysteries feature feisty young women who become private detectives. The women are likeable and fight to be respected as professionals. These cozy stories paint a realistic historical picture of their time periods. -- Merle Jacob

Sarah Woolson mysteries by Shirley Tallman

Reason:  The Sarah Woolson and Molly Murphy mysteries are historicals set in the late 1800s and feature strong women sleuths. The books have realistic period detail and bring out the social problems of the times. The characters are intriguing. -- Merle Jacob

Other Series:

Royal Spyness mysteries (Most Recent: Aug 2016)

Alternate series name: Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie novels

Constable Evans mysteries (Most Recent: Aug 2006)

Author’s website: http://rhysbowen.com/

Monstrous Regiment of Women

Monstrous Regiment of Women

by Laurie King    

February 2016

PERSONAL INFORMATION:

Born September 19, 1952, in Oakland, CA;. Education: University of California, Santa Cruz, B.A., 1977; Graduate Theological Union, M.A., 1984. Addresses: Home: Freedom, CA. Agent: Linda Allen, Linda Allen Literary Agency, 1949 Green St., Ste. 5, San Francisco, CA 94123.       E-mail: info@laurierking.com.

Website:  http://www.laurierking.com

AWARDS:  

Among many awards, King won the Nero Wolfe Award, 1995, for A Monstrous Regiment of Women; she has an honorary doctorate from Church Divinity School of the Pacific.

"MARY RUSSELL" SERIES

Laurie King's versatile storytelling smoothly blurs the borders of mystery, historical mystery, and psychological suspense genres. Her carefully-plotted, imaginative works often feature admirable heroines who bend societal norms in some way. Subtle undercurrents of feminism and theology are common. King's popular Sherlock Holmes series features Mary Russell, who is foremost Holmes's equally brilliant, strong-willed, partner-and, eventually, his near-scandalously younger wife.

• The Beekeeper's Apprentice; or, On the Segregation of the Queen, 1994.
• A Monstrous Regiment of Women, 1995.
• A Letter of Mary, 1997.
• The Moor, 1998.
• O Jerusalem, 1999.
• Justice Hall, 2002.
• The Game, 2004.
• Locked Rooms, 2005.
• The Language of Bees, 2009.
• The God of the Hive, 2010.
• Pirate King, 2011.
• Garment of Shadows, 2012
• Dreaming of Spies, 2015
• Murder of Mary Russell, April, 2016 (forthcoming)

Laurie King is also the author of the Kate Martinelli series and several stand alone mysteries.

AUTHOR READ- ALIKES FROM NOVELIST (by Krista Biggs)

Wilhelm, Kate    Reason:  Another writer in several genres, Kate Wilhelm makes a good suggestion for fans of King's Psychological Suspense novels. Both authors' works feature elegant style, building suspense, intelligent plotting, and strong characterizations, not to mention feminist attitudes.

Fyfield, Frances   Reason:  Suspense and Mystery novelist Frances Fyfield offers multiple similarities to King. In addition to her gripping, sinister, provocative novels of Psychological Suspense, Fyfield also writes contemporary Mysteries that should please King fans for their marked feminism, dark foreboding atmosphere, troubled personal relationships, and difficult cases, often driven by disturbing social issues.

Pears, Iain   Reason:  These authors write fast-paced Historical Mysteries set in a variety of eras. King's novels have a more feminist point of view, but both authors' character-driven works have a strong sense of place, no matter the time period.

Todd, Charles   Reason:  Charles Todd and Laurie R. King write character-driven historical mysteries set primarily in the World War I and post-war era. Carefully researched details contribute to a strong sense of place in both authors' work, although Todd's stories have a darker tone and elements of psychological suspense.