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Janet Quin-Harkin
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

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,

Works as Rhys Bowen

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

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
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