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Rhys Bowen

Author of Her Royal Spyness

179+ Works 23,624 Members 1,170 Reviews 34 Favorited

About the Author

Rhys Bowen was born Janet Quin-Harkin in 1941 in Bath, England. She earned her bachelors degree from the University of London. Soon after graduation she worked for the British Broadcasting Corporation as a studio manager and writer. She then took a job working for a textbook company developing show more reading texts before writing her own books. Her first picture book - Peter Penny's Dance - was published in 1976 and changed her career to children's book author. The book earned praise and won numerous awards. In 1981 she wrote a teen novel entitled California Girl which became the first installment in Bantam's Sweet Dreams series. This series grew to include novels such as Love Match, Daydreamer, and Ten-Boy Summer. These Sweet Dreams books started a major trend in young adult publishing. they were praised as an encouragement to reading. Janet Quin-Harkin also authored non-series fiction for adolescents such as award winning novel Wanted: Date for Saturday Night and Summer Heat. She also wrote the young adult historical novels Madam Sarah and Fool's Gold. She then moved on to writng mystery novels whcih included her Constable Evans series. Her book Royal Blood made the New York Times Bestseller list. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Disambiguation Notice:

Janet Quin-Harkin writes books for teens. She uses the pen name Rhys Bowen for her mystery novels for adults.

Image credit: Taken by Lesa Holstine, 2/10/08, Glendale, AZ

Series

Works by Rhys Bowen

Her Royal Spyness (2007) 1,946 copies
A Royal Pain (2008) 1,067 copies
Murphy's Law (2001) 972 copies
In Farleigh Field (2017) 831 copies
Royal Flush (2009) 823 copies
Royal Blood (2010) 800 copies
Naughty in Nice (2011) 688 copies
The Tuscan Child (2018) 681 copies
Death of Riley (2002) 587 copies
Heirs and Graces (2013) 569 copies
For the Love of Mike (2003) 544 copies
Evans Above (1997) 541 copies
Queen of Hearts (2014) 459 copies
The Victory Garden (2019) 447 copies
Tell Me, Pretty Maiden (2008) 426 copies
Crowned and Dangerous (2016) 424 copies
Malice at the Palace (2015) 424 copies
In Like Flynn (2004) 422 copies
Oh Danny Boy (2006) 417 copies
In a Gilded Cage (2009) 394 copies
In Dublin's Fair City (2007) 390 copies
The Last Illusion (2010) 355 copies
The Venice Sketchbook (2021) 340 copies
Evan and Elle (2000) 328 copies
Evan Help Us (1998) 328 copies
Evanly Choirs (1999) 300 copies
Evan's Gate (2004) 278 copies
Evan Blessed (2005) 276 copies
Bless the Bride (2011) 265 copies
Evan Can Wait (2001) 264 copies
The Last Mrs. Summers (2020) 263 copies
Evanly Bodies (2006) 260 copies
Above the Bay of Angels (2020) 254 copies
Evans to Betsy (2002) 241 copies
The Amersham Rubies (2011) 240 copies
Masked Ball at Broxley Manor (2012) 237 copies
Hush Now, Don't You Cry (2012) 234 copies
Evan Only Knows (2003) 224 copies
God Rest Ye, Royal Gentlemen (2021) 224 copies
The Family Way (2012) 201 copies
City of Darkness and Light (2014) 200 copies
The Edge of Dreams (2015) 173 copies
Where the Sky Begins (2022) 171 copies
Time of Fog and Fire (2016) 166 copies
Peril in Paris (2022) 156 copies
The Ghost of Christmas Past (2017) 154 copies
Away in a Manger (2015) 149 copies
Magic Growing Powder (1980) 98 copies
Wild Irish Rose (2022) 87 copies
The Proof of the Pudding (2023) 86 copies
What Child is This (2018) 82 copies
The Paris Assignment (2023) 73 copies
A Royal Threesome (2014) 56 copies
All That Is Hidden (2023) 55 copies
The Face in the Mirror (2013) 54 copies
Through the Window (2014) 46 copies
Benjamin's Balloon (1978) 36 copies
The Boy Next Door (1995) 33 copies
California Girl (1981) 31 copies
Ten-Boy Summer (1982) 30 copies
The Two of Us (1984) 27 copies
Love Match (1982) 24 copies
Peter Penny's Dance (1976) 23 copies
Daydreamer (1983) 23 copies
Who Do You Love? (1996) 21 copies
Dreamwalker (2014) 20 copies
Ginger's First Kiss (1994) 20 copies
Roni's Dream Boy (1994) 20 copies
No Experience Required (1989) 19 copies
101 Ways to Meet Mr. Right (1985) 19 copies
Lovebirds (1984) 18 copies
Exchange of Hearts (1984) 17 copies
Flamingo Revenge (1997) 16 copies
Ghost of a Chance (1984) 15 copies
Catch of the Day (1989) 15 copies
Karen's Perfect Match (1994) 14 copies
Fun, Sun, and Flamingoes (1997) 14 copies
Roni's Two-Boy Trouble (1994) 14 copies
Write Every Day (1986) 13 copies
In Sunshine or in Shadow (2024) 13 copies
Queen Justine (1994) 12 copies
The Main Attraction (1989) 11 copies
My Best Enemy (1987) 11 copies
Old Friends, New Friends (1986) 11 copies
Ginger's New Crush (1994) 11 copies
Best Friends Forever (1986) 11 copies
The Boyfriend Wars (1995) 11 copies
No More Boys (1995) 11 copies
Just Desserts (1990) 11 copies
The Trouble with Toni (1986) 10 copies
The Graduates (1986) 10 copies
The Great Boy Chase (1985) 10 copies
Nothing in Common (1987) 10 copies
Growing Pains (1986) 10 copies
Love to Go (1990) 10 copies
At Your Service (1990) 9 copies
My Secret Love (1986) 9 copies
Roni's Sweet Fifteen (1995) 9 copies
Follow That Boy (1985) 7 copies
Never Say Goodbye (1987) 7 copies
Helpful Hattie (1983) 6 copies
My Phantom Love (1992) 6 copies
Dear Cousin (1987) 5 copies
Sleepover Madness (1995) 5 copies
Trade Winds (1993) 5 copies
Torn Apart (1999) 5 copies
Trading Places (1987) 5 copies
Cool in School (1996) 5 copies
You Read My Mind (1996) 4 copies
Love Potion (1999) 4 copies
Surf's Up! (1987) 4 copies
Big Sister (1988) 4 copies
Flip Side (1987) 4 copies
Two Girls, One Boy (1987) 4 copies
One Step Too Far (1989) 4 copies
All Rapped Up (1997) 4 copies
Madame Sarah (1989) 4 copies
Karen's Lessons in Love (1995) 4 copies
Heartbreak Café (1989) 3 copies
Summer Daze (1997) 3 copies
Fool's Gold (1991) 3 copies
Tug of War (1987) 3 copies
Road Trip (1989) 3 copies
Out in the Cold (1988) 3 copies
Blind Date (1988) 3 copies
Double Take (1987) 3 copies
Last Dance (1987) 3 copies
On My Own (1986) 3 copies
Night of the Prom (1992) 2 copies
Forever Friday (1995) 2 copies
Dream Come True (1988) 2 copies
Secrets of Lake Success (1993) 2 copies
Amazing Grace (1993) 2 copies
Home Sweet Home (1988) 2 copies
Make Me a Star (1987) 2 copies
Voodoo 2 copies
Having a Ball (1989) 2 copies
Star Quality (1997) 2 copies
Winner Take All (1984) 1 copy
Dear Karen (1998) 1 copy
It's My Turn (1988) 1 copy
Friday Night Fright (1995) 1 copy
Sherlocked 1 copy
The Sutcliffe Diamonds (1994) 1 copy
Evan and Me 1 copy
Starring Tess and Ali (1991) 1 copy
Tommy Loves Tina (1984) 1 copy
The Wall 1 copy
Doppelganger 1 copy
Love Potion 1 copy

Associated Works

An Apple for the Creature (2012) — Contributor — 376 copies
Sherlock Holmes: The Hidden Years (2004) — Contributor — 105 copies
Death Dines In (2004) — Contributor — 88 copies
Sherlock Holmes: The American Years (2010) — Contributor — 56 copies
Blood on Their Hands (2003) — Contributor — 46 copies
A Merry Band of Murderers (2006) — Contributor — 21 copies
Malice Domestic 11: Murder Most Conventional (2016) — Contributor — 10 copies
Mysterious Writers: The Many Facets of Mystery Writing (2010) — Contributor — 9 copies
Chesapeake Crimes: Homicidal Holidays (2014) — Introduction — 8 copies
Shattering Glass: A Nasty Woman Press Anthology (2020) — Contributor — 8 copies
Crimespree Magazine #50 — Contributor — 1 copy

Tagged

1900s (94) 1930s (455) 2013 (92) 20th century (138) amateur detective (101) audible (192) audio (152) audiobook (234) British (188) Constable Evans (114) cozy (274) cozy mystery (433) ebook (295) England (548) fiction (1,466) historical (394) historical fiction (945) historical mystery (802) humor (100) Kindle (353) Lady Georgiana Rannoch (117) library (116) London (118) Molly Murphy (277) murder (160) mysteries (106) mystery (3,849) mystery fiction (102) New York (168) New York City (194) read (210) Rhys Bowen (96) romance (172) Royal Spyness (209) royalty (140) series (479) short stories (92) to-read (1,666) Wales (271) WWII (185)

Common Knowledge

Legal name
Quin-Harkin, Janet
Birthdate
1941-09-24
Gender
female
Nationality
UK
Birthplace
Bath, Somerset, England, UK
Places of residence
California, USA
Arizona, USA
Education
University of London
Occupations
mystery writer
BBC announcer
drama studio manager
Organizations
Mystery Writers of America
Awards and honors
Anthony Award (Short Story, 2004) for "Doppleganger" in the anthology Blood on Their Hands
Agent
Meg Ruley
Disambiguation notice
Janet Quin-Harkin writes books for teens. She uses the pen name Rhys Bowen for her mystery novels for adults.

Members

Discussions

Reviews

I really wanted to like this series, but not sure I will continue after this one. Maybe at some point. But the tendency to relate word for word Georgie’s relationship to royalty numerous times is grating. Everyone is obsessed with sex. A near rape is brushed off and never mentioned again. And in this particular book, there was absolutely no Mystery about who the villain was.
 
Flagged
corliss12000 | 56 other reviews | Mar 16, 2024 |
Typical Rhys Bowen, but I thought the best of her novels. Maybe because the story ends in Australia, and involves a cruel orphanage run by nuns. A dark but truthful part of Australian history. Definitely one for Rhys Bowen fans.
 
Flagged
Craftybilda | 4 other reviews | Mar 9, 2024 |
really not my cup of tea. I usually read the edgar best mtstery nominees which is why i was reading this one. I generaaly like historical mysteries and particularly world war two ones, but this one irritatated me. (SPOILER***) I guess the guy who is supposed to be the "romantic lead" just did not appeal to me. First he's an adult convincing a teenager to sneak out with him, later she has sex for the first time and he abandons her for a month. He claims he doesnt love his wife but for financial/social reasons needs to stay with her..... just really turned me off… (more)
 
Flagged
cspiwak | 24 other reviews | Mar 6, 2024 |
An entertaining summertime read, and lives up to the Her Royal Spyness reputation.

I was annoyed at one of the character's constant use of the word 'sexy'. Even the explanation that she picked it up watching American movies does not jive, as talkies had just been introduced and the scripts certainly didn't have such racy language! If it had only been once or twice I wouldn't have minded but it comes up a lot in the book.
 
Flagged
s_paul | 56 other reviews | Mar 3, 2024 |

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Statistics

Works
179
Also by
17
Members
23,624
Popularity
#886
Rating
½ 3.7
Reviews
1,170
ISBNs
875
Languages
11
Favorited
34

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