In fall 2016, Janet Dawson joined a thousand or so mystery writers and fans in New Orleans to attend Bouchercon, the World Mystery Convention. While enjoying a week in NOLA and its environs, sampling the city’s food and music, Dawson began thinking of a way to send her fictional Oakland private eye, Jeri Howard, to the Big Easy. The Devil Close Behind is the result.
The novel is the 13th in the series, which began with Kindred Crimes, winner of the St. Martin’s Press/Private Eye Writers of America contest for Best Private Eye Novel, and a nominee for several best first awards. Her Jeri Howard book Bit Player was nominated for a Golden Nugget award for best California mystery. Her most recent Jeri Howard novel, Water Signs, was published in April 2017.
Dawson also writes historical mysteries. The California Zephyr series features protagonist Jill McLeod, who is a Zephyrette aboard the sleek streamliner train. The books are set in the early 1950s and the titles are Death Rides the Zephyr, Death Deals a Hand and The Ghost in Roomette Four.
In addition, Dawson has written a suspense novel, What You Wish For, and a novella, But Not Forgotten, as well as numerous short stories, including “Voice Mail,” which won a Macavity award. She welcomes visitors and email at www.janetdawson.com and on Facebook.
mystery fiction by janet dawson
jeri howard series
Kindred Crimes
Till the Old Men Die
Take a Number
Don’t Turn Your Back on the Ocean
Nobody’s Child
A Credible Threat
Witness to Evil
Where the Bodies Are Buried
A Killing at the Track
Bit Player
Cold Trail
Water Signs
The Devil Close Behind
short stories
Scam and Eggs
suspense fiction
What You Wish For
california zephyr series
Death Rides the Zephyr
Death Deals a Hand
The Ghost in Roomette Four