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.

Born24 September 1941 (age 84)

Bath, Somerset

Pen nameRhys Bowen

Occupationnovelist, dance teacher

NationalityBritish

Quick facts Born, Pen name ...

Janet Quin-Harkin
Born	(1941-09-24) 24 September 1941 (age 84) Bath, Somerset
Pen name	Rhys Bowen
Occupation	novelist, dance teacher
Nationality	British
Education	London University
Genre	historical mystery novels
Website
rhysbowen.com

Close

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

Evans Above (1997)
Evan Help Us (1998)
Evanly Choirs (1999)
Evan and Elle (2000)
Evan Can Wait (2001)
Evans to Betsy (2002)
Evan Only Knows (2003)
Evan's Gate (2004)
Evan Blessed (2005)
Evanly Bodies (2006)

Her Royal Spyness series

Her Royal Spyness (2007)
A Royal Pain (2008)
Royal Flush (2009)
Royal Blood (2010)
Naughty in Nice (2011)
The Twelve Clues of Christmas (2012)
Heirs and Graces (2013)
Queen of Hearts (2014)
Malice at the Palace (2015)
Crowned and Dangerous (2016)
On Her Majesty’s Frightfully Secret Service (2017)
Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding (2018)
Love and Death Among the Cheetahs (2019)^[6]
The Last Mrs. Summers (2020)^[7]
God Rest Ye, Royal Gentlemen (2021)
Peril in Paris (2022)
The Proof of The Pudding (November 2023)^[8]
We Three Queens (2024)^[8]
From Cradle to Grave (2025)^[8]

A Royal Spyness short stories

Masked Ball at Broxley Manor (2012)

Molly Murphy series

Murphy's Law (2001)
Death of Riley (2002)
For the Love of Mike (2003)
In Like Flynn (2005)
Oh Danny Boy (2006)
In Dublin's Fair City (2007)
Tell Me, Pretty Maiden (2008)
In a Gilded Cage (2009)
The Last Illusion (2010)
Bless the Bride (2011)
Hush Now, Don't You Cry (2012)
The Family Way (2013)
City of Darkness and Light (2014)
The Edge of Dreams (2015)
Away in a Manger (2015)
Time of Fog and Fire (2016)
The Ghost of Christmas Past (2017)
Wild Irish Rose, co-author Clare Broyles (2022)^[9]
All That is Hidden, co-author Clare Broyles (2023)
In Sunshine or in Shadow, co-author Clare Broyles (March 2024)^[9]
Silent as the Grave, co-author Clare Broyles (2025)^[9]

Molly Murphy short stories

"The Amersham Rubies" (2011)
"The Face in the Mirror" (2013)
"Through the Window" (2014)

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)
Mrs. Endicott’s Splendid Adventure (2025)

Anthologies and collections

More information Anthology or Collection, Contents ...

Anthology or Collection	Contents	Publication Date
An Apple for a Creature	Low School	Aug 2012