Mystery Women Authors

Jennifer Rowe

Biography

Jennifer Rowe was born in 1948 in Sydney Australia, and attained a Master of Arts in English Literature at the University of Sydney. Jennifer's first job was assistant editor at Paul Hamlyn. She later worked at Angus and Robertson Publishers where she remained for fourteen years as Editor, Senior Editor, Managing Director, Deputy Publisher and finally Publisher. During this time she began writing children's books under the pseudonym Emily Rodda. She is the only person to have won the Australian Children's Book Council Book of the Year for Younger Readers Award five times.

Jennifer's acclaimed murder mysteries for adults, written under her own name are: "Grim Pickings" (made into a Channel 9 TV mini-series), "Murder by the Book", "Death in Store", "The Makeover Murders" and "Strangehold". She also edited a collection of crime stories "Love Lies Bleeding" and has contributed to the 1997 crimes for summer collection "Moonlight Becomes You".

After a career in publishing and Editor of the Australian Women's Weekly for five years, Jennifer now divides her working day between consultancies for book publishers and her own writing. She lives in the Blue Mountains with her four children and second husband.

Almost all Jennifer Rowe's books are out of print in the USA but are available from Australia. Go to Other Reader information

Books

Verity Birdwood Mysteries

Grim Pickings

Set in an apple orchard - this mystery introduces Verity Birdwood, an intrepid sleuth with a brilliant mind.

Grim Pickings was made into a TV mini series.

Published Allen & Unwin 1988 (out of print USA)

Murder by the Book

When everyone who has read Leonard Dykes's unpublished manuscript--including the author himself--is found dead, Nero Wolfe, along with his sidekick, decides to set a trap.

Published Allen & Unwin 1990 (out of print USA)

Death in Store

Christmas may be the season to be jolly, but there's a noticeable absence of good will at Frederick's Department Store, where behind the very professional smiles lurk thoughts of murder. As Verity Birdwood recounts in this witty collection of her most intriguing cases, the Australian sleuth discovers that tidings of joy can be overshadowed by Death's dark hand.

Published Allen & Unwin 1991 (out of print USA)

The Makeover Murders

At discreet Deepdene, the guests are ready to test for themselves the makeover mansion's claim that every woman can - with expensive encouragement - realise her full beauty.

Outside the rain begins to fall. Inside, beneath the smooth surface of the Deepdene routines, undercurrents stir and gather strength. Soon it is clear to Verity Birdwood that all is not what it seems. But even sharp, resourceful Birdie does not suspect that within Deepdene's silk-lined walls is an enemy with murder in mind.

Published Allen & Unwin 1992 (out of print USA)

Stranglehold

After seventy-year-old radio star Max Tully announces his engagement to his young, seductive housekeeper, Mai Tran. Verity Birdwood is called in to investigate nasty threats against the enigmatic beauty, threats that lead to murder.

Published Bantam Books 1995 (Out of print USA)

Lamb to the Slaughter

After serving five years for the murder of his wife, Trevor Lamb is a free man, thanks to idealistic lawyer Jude Dilanchion, whose best-selling book cast doubt on Trevor's guilt. So now the prodigal son is returning home with Jude in tow. But soon after they're arrival in Hope's End, another murder takes place.

Published Bantam Books 1996

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Tessa Vance Mysteries

Deadline

New in massmarket format this was the first in a new series of intriguing mystery thrillers based on the television series Murder Call created by Jennifer Rowe with Hal McElroy and screening on the 9 Network throughout 1998/99.

Published Allen & Unwin Dec 1998

Something Wicked

Something Wicked featuring Tessa Vance, Murder Call's brilliant, intuitive detective. When burnt-out pop star Adam Quinn is found grotesquely dead on a secluded mountain property called Haven, it
looks like a case of suicide. But is it? Bliss, Skye and Astral Brydie,
the three sisters found at Haven with Quinn's body, are vague about what happened the night he died. And their mother is nowhere to be found. The girls seem terrified, as if they're holding something back. The neighbours are only too ready to talk. But how much of what they say can be believed? As Senior Detective Tessa Vance and her partner Steve Hayden work to penetrate the web of fear, suspicion and deceit that shrouds Haven, as the dark secrets of the place are slowly exposed, Tessa must fight to stay clear-headed and to come to terms with the truth. 

Published Allen & Unwin 1998

Short Story mysteries

Love Lies Bleeding - Crimes for a Summer Christmas #5

Published

Non Mystery Books

A range of books for children under the pseudonym of Emily Rodda.

Web site address

None found

Other sites for Jennifer Rowe

For information on Emily Rodda

Page created by Leone Moffat.

Last updated April 24, 2002