Rhys Bowen Over twenty years ago, before e-readers and long before I considered writing mysteries, I'd randomly choose three or four books at the library each week. After picking up Murphy’s Law (on the new books shelf for 2001), I was swept into the world of Rhys Bowen. Since then, I’ve read many of the charming Molly Murphy books (about an Irish maid in early 20th-century New York City), and also enjoyed several of her lighter, Royal Spyness series, about sharp Lady Georgie, who is 35^th in line to the British Crown. Of her stand-alone books, the last one I read was Venice Sketchbook. Then, I went back to reading books in her series.

Rhys Bowen (winner of Anthony, Agatha, and Macavity awards) is the pen name for Janet Quin-Harkin (b 1941 in Bath, England). She has won dozens of awards, is a best-selling author, and all my mystery-writing friends adore her. She and her husband, John Quin-Harkin, move between California and Arizona. I was delighted to meet Rhys (and her daughter Clare Broyles, who has continued writing the Molly Murphy series) in person at the 2023 Left Coast Crime conference in Tucson, when I was invited to join the Desert Sleuth chapter of Sisters in Crime for drinks.

I usually don’t care about getting autographs or meeting famous movie stars and authors – I prefer to preserve the magic of their art – but the thrill of hugging Rhys Bowen will stay with me forever. Anyone who loves cozy mysteries or wants to learn how to write solid mysteries must read at least one of Rhys Bowen’s novels.