Rhys Bowen

Bath

United Kingdom

Profile Information:

Hometown:: San Rafael
About Me:: I'm the author of the Molly Murphy mysteries, featuring an Irish Immigrant woman in 1900s New York City, also the Constable Evans mysteries set in North Wales.
Last summer I launched a brand new series about the British royal family in the 1930s.It's called HER ROYAL SPYNESS, Berkley Prime Crime. It's been pitched as Bridget Jones meets Maisie Dobbs with a touch of royal flair, of course. Lots of fun and a little bit sexy and scary too. It became an IMBA #1 bestseller and has been nominted for the Dilys, Agatha, Romatic Times and MacAvity awards.
July 1 2008 marks the appearance of the second in the series, A Royal Pain.
I've been nominated for every major mystery award and I've won eight of them. I also write short stories and have served on the MWA national board. When not writing I love to travel, sing, play my Celtic Harp and spoil my grandchildren.
I Am A:: Writer
Website:: http://www.rhysbowen.com
Books And Authors I Like:: My own, of course. (see my website)
My favorite mystery authors are:
Tony Hillerman
Reginald Hill
Peter Robinson
Lyn Hamilton
Deborah Crombie
Jerrilyn Farmer
Laura Lippman
Michael Connelly
I used to adore Mary Stewart.
Daphne Du Maurier
and all those golden age ladies
Movies And TV Shows I Like:: Charade, Foul Play--anything funny and a little scary
anything really romantic: Out of Africa, Casablanca
TV shows? British comedy, PBS mysteries
Love Loveyoy
Prime Suspect (adore Helen Mirren)
therefore LOVED The Queen
All the Miss Marples with Joan Hickson
All the Poirots
Mrs. Bradley with Diana Rigg
(oh, and dare I confess: The Bachelor)

Comment Wall:

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Lesa Holstine

Hi Rhys,

I'm a regular reader of The Ladykillers, as well as DorothyL. And, if everything goes OK, I plan to be at The Poisoned Pen's Royal Spyness tea in July.

May 15, 2007
Lee Lofland

Hi Rhys. I seem to see you everywhere I go!

The new series sounds great and if it's anything like the others you'll add many more awards to your collection.

May 16, 2007
Rhys Bowen

Thanks for the welcome, guys--although I'm mulling over the warning about this place becoming adictive. I already have to check my other blogsite at least once a day. Now this too! Will that new book ever get started?

May 16, 2007
Robin Burcell

Hi Rhys! Thanks for the invite. Love the photo, too. No doubt your photographer is as good as mine!

May 16, 2007
Rhys Bowen

Hi Robin,
I should declare here, publicly before half the world that you are the most amazing, brilliant photographer and I'm sure you'd take commissions, (for a suitable fee, of course).
Have you checked out my video promo?
I'm rather proud of it
Rhys

May 16, 2007
Rhys Bowen

Oh, and Robin, I should add that your photo must have been taken by an outstandingly expert photographer as well!

May 16, 2007
Rhys Bowen

Hi, Suzanne:
I'm going to be in SouCal on July 28/29 hosting a couple of royal teas for my new book, Her royal Spyness. One at LA Mystery Books, one in San Diego. Also signing at Myteries to Die for and at Book'em.
The royal teas should be fun. Hats and gloves required, of course.

May 17, 2007
Robin Burcell

Great video, Rhys! I have to admit, the photos in it were amazing. But not nearly as amazing as the narrator. It makes it all seem so very... British! Can't wait for the book to come out.

And, yes, my photographer was brilliant. Which makes you brilliant, being that you are one and the same!

May 17, 2007
Elaine Flinn

Hi, Rhys!
Good to see you here. Best of luck with the blog - I wish I had your energy! My year at Murderti was a killer time wise - just not enough hours in the day with everything else I'm committed to these days. Great video!

May 18, 2007
Rhys Bowen

I do agree that blogs, sites like this do detract from writing time. I should be working on rewrites at this moment. I should learn only to check my blog once a week. But I don't.
I guess I'm essentially a social person and when I'm working I like to stay in touch.
And the thrilling thing about this profession is that we make so many good friends!

May 19, 2007
Kerrie

Hello Rhys
I've read some of your Constable Evans series but none of the Molly Murphy ones. Your new series sounds interesting. How many titles do you envisage? How many have you written so far?

May 20, 2007
Mary Saums

Hi, Rhys - I enjoyed talking with you at Malice. Looking forward to your new series!

May 21, 2007
Rhys Bowen

Hi Kerri and Mary:
I've only written the first title in the new HER Royal Spyness series. It's so different from anything else I've done--it's funny, a little sexy--very similar in tone to Shopaholic and Bridget Jones (with a more royal flair of course). And such fun to write!
Comes out July 3rd and I'm doing a series of Royal Teas around the Western half of the country.

May 21, 2007
Julie Lomoe

Hi Rhys,
I'm delighted to see you've joined this site. I very much enjoyed our conversation over dinner at the Agatha Awards dinner at Malice, and seeing your page here reminds me to check out the ladykillers site. I'm also conflicted about the time I spend online and blogging; I'm trying to discipline myself to do it at night rather than during what should be prime writing time (like right now - 11:38 EST).

May 22, 2007
JackBludis

Very attractove site. Glad to see you here--not to mention that I'm glad to be here.

May 24, 2007
Rhys Bowen

I'm glad to see you here, Jack, Julie and everyone else who has linked up as my friend. What a neat place. Only problem is that I could spend serious time here rather than writing Her Royal Spyness 2, which is what I should be doing.

May 25, 2007
I. J. Parker

Hi, Rhys. So nice to find you here also, and of course I'll be your friend. :) (We have much the same taste in writers also, at least the male ones).

May 28, 2007
Helen

Hi Rhys. Glad you enjoyed visiting my home town. You're right about the combination of wineries and seafood making it a very nice place to live. I can't imagine why your family moved away from paradise :)
I've read and enjoyed a few of your Constable Evans books. Well, with a surname like mine, I'm naturally drawn to all things Welsh. :)

May 28, 2007
Beth Walker

Hi Rhys. As a reader, I wanted to say, I really enjoyed the "Evans" books and I can't wait to read HER ROYAL SPYNESS.

Congratulations on your continued success!!

Jun 10, 2007
Nikki Leigh

I met you at the VA Festival of the Book a couple of years ago and I finally got a chance to read the first Molly Murphy book. It was great and I have the next two on my shelf :) I'm working on a short story that will have a transatlantic crossing in the early 1800's and I really enjoyed your description of Molly's trip to America :)

Nikki Leigh

Jun 11, 2007
Nikki Leigh

First class -- things have certainly changed for Molly :) Will have to work my way to the new one :)

Nikki Leigh

Jun 12, 2007
Robin Caroll

This is the neatest site. I really have enjoyed getting to "meet" people.

Jun 13, 2007
Jason Starr

Thanks so much for the note Rhys!
My wife and I love your books!!
Jason

Jun 21, 2007
Jennie Bentley/Bente Gallagher

Thanks, Rhys. I appreciate the welcome. I'm looking forward to 'Her Royal Spyness'!

Jun 21, 2007
Rebecca26

Yes, we do have very similar tastes in books! You are on my To Read list (and have been for a while). I plan to read Her Royal Spyness as soon as it gets processed at the library. I suspect I will have to fight off the Winspear, Dunn, and Greenwood fans to get to it.

Jun 23, 2007
Cara Black

Ages since I saw you dear Rhys...twelve hours maybe?
Good travels and stay safe

Jul 27, 2007
Harry Shannon

Yeah, some days I will do anything to avoid working...Thanks for being my first friend here!

Jul 28, 2007
James R. Benn

Hello, Rhys! Thanks for befriending me, here and on the back cover of "The First Wave"!
I'll be diving into "Her Royal Spyness" soon.

Jim

Jul 30, 2007
Kelli Stanley

Thanks for the wonderful tea party at SF Mystery Bookstore, Rhys! We're now deeply involved with "Her Royal Spyness" and "In Dublin's Fair City" ... and are still chuckling over that "boils" joke. :)

I'm looking forward to your historical forensics panel at Bouchercon ... take care!

Kelli

Aug 14, 2007
Meredith S. Cole

I just read my first Molly Murphy book and really enjoyed it. I love the era you're writing about, and all the details. I look forward to reading another soon, and dipping into your new series.
Best,
Meredith

Aug 17, 2007
Kelli Stanley

Congratulations, Rhys!! Success couldn't happen to a nicer Royal than Georgie :)

I'm now craving cucumber sandwiches, and am booked at Lovejoy's for a tea very soon. Take care, and see you in Alaska!

Kelli

Aug 23, 2007
Roger Newbury

Hello Rhys, nice to meet you, and you're welcome regarding the invite! I've been checking out the various friends, of those I've acquired so far here on CrimeSpace, and have been inviting randomly those that I feel would agree to become my friends - so far I don't think any have denied me!
It's amazing just how many have requested me to become their friend, and everyone I've made contact with, are all so nice.
It's great making friends from all over the world, with similar interests. I'm going to seek out your work, and add it to my growing collection of books to be read! I'll get around to them sometime!!
Looking forward to 'chatting' to you often. Take care.

Sep 16, 2007
John Morgan Wilson

Hi, Rhys...What a beautiful, cheery photo you added to my group of CrimeSpace pals! Nice to hear from you again after so long. I'm making final revisions on my next Benjamin Justice mystery. What are you up to?

Dec 4, 2007
Rhys Bowen

I'm so glad that Ben Justice is enduring so well as a series. Not the norm these days.
I'm still writing the Molly Murphy books (book 7 comes out next spring) and I've begun the new HER ROYAL SPYNESS series--lighter, satire on the British upper classes set in 1930s London. It's doing really well so far (coming out as a Reader's Digest condensed book in the spring. I've never been condensed before. I wonder if it will hurt?)
All best
Rhys

Dec 4, 2007
Caro Soles

Hi Rhys--

Happy holidays to you! I agree about the disappearance of mystery bookstores being a sad thing. This discussion is on another list somewhere, I think. For my one real book tour, which was much earlier this year, I must say I got a great warm welcome from all I visited. You've had much more experience than I at this game. :)

CAro

Dec 4, 2007
Debbi Mack

Hi Rhys,

Thanks for the invite. I was just watching "Charade" last night--what a great movie.

Debbi

Dec 5, 2007
Michelle Gagnon

Hi Rhys-

Great seeing you yesterday, albeit briefly! Best wishes for the new year-
Michelle

Dec 11, 2007
Michelle Gagnon

Rhys-

I know, I spent a few days in heels in NYC last week, and it almost killed me- hard to adjust when you spend most of the days in slippers! Loving Her Royal Spyness, I've almost finished it. Happy holidays-
Michelle

Dec 16, 2007
Rhys Bowen

Thanks, Michelle.
Yes, New York is not for the unfit or the faint hearted, but I love being there. I always feel so energized, as if life is going on all around me.
I'm so glad you're enjoying Her Royal Spyness!

Dec 17, 2007
Margaret Grace

I'm back from a weekend in SF performing a wedding ceremony at the B of A's beautiful Carnelian Room ... I married a DA's investigator and a criminal prosecutor from Monterey County ... the guests were a gold mine of law enforcement stories and information!
Now, I'm ready to start the new year with faithful attention to Crimespace ...
Happy New Year Rhys and friends.

Dec 31, 2007
Allan E. Ansorge

Sounds familiar, last year while I was at Love Is Murder in Chicago a tornado was dancing with the house I have in Florida.
I got the place fix (in Florida time) then lent it out to three folks whos house were totaled. Heading down tomorrow to see what it looks like one year later.

Jan 9, 2008
Bronwyn

Hi Rhys, Welsh in name only, not ancestry. What titles should I look out for?

Feb 5, 2008
Bronwyn

Ok, I googled you, will check the libraries and bookstores in Darwin.

Feb 5, 2008
Lynette Rees

Yes, we do lol. I love the sound of your mystery stories, Rhys. I'm going to have to put one of your books on my 'to be read' list. Which one would you recommend?

Feb 6, 2008
Lynette Rees

Coincidentally, my maiden name was Evans, so I think I'll try that book first!

Thanks.

Feb 6, 2008
Lynette Rees

Evan's Gate arrived yesterday from Amazon. Can't wait to get down to reading it!

Lynette

Feb 18, 2008
Pepper Smith

Hi Rhys,

Just finished reading Her Royal Spyness, and really enjoyed it. You've officially been added to my list of authors whose books I will keep an eye out for.

Aug 6, 2008
Mitzi Szereto

LOL! Well I lived in darkest and lightest California myself - and I'm an expat Yank!

Aug 13, 2008
Arlene Sachitano

The Harriet Vane Chapter of Sisters in Crime enjoyed your talk at the salad bar dinner hosted by Susan Stanley and Kathryn Scotten in Portland. We are all reading and enjoying your new series!
Arlene Sachitano
PS - if you don't recognize my picture - it's not really me :)

Aug 19, 2008
Judy Starbuck

Rhys, did you get my information on Sisters?

Jan 11, 2009