# Janet Quin-Harkin

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, LCCN 98-94951

## 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