Born in Detroit, where she learned a lot about crime, Linda Barnes began her writing career as a playwright.  After publishing four well-received mysteries featuring Boston area actor/detective Michael Spraggue, she tried her hand at a short story, “Lucky Penny,” which was nominated for all four major mystery awards, including the Edgar and Shamus. Her next twelve novels starred Carlotta Carlyle, the 6’1” red-headed  protagonist of that story, in what Harlan Coben has called “one of the best private-eye series ever.” Publishers Weekly calls her most recent standalone novel, The Perfect Ghost, “a captivating story of love, rivalry, and revenge.” She is the recipient of the Anthony, Parker, and American Mystery awards, and a past president of Private Eye Writers of America.

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Carlotta Carlyle’s favorite Boston spots