Dorothy Cannell

Dorothy Cannell is a well-known author, celebrated for her cozy mystery novels. She was born in Nottingham, England, and later moved to the United States in 1963 when she was twenty years old. Cannell grew up in London and has since become a successful writer, residing in Belfast, Maine, with her husband, Julian Cannell. Together, they have four children and ten grandchildren.

Cannell is best known for her Ellie Haskell series, which features an interior decorator named Ellie Haskell and her husband, Ben Haskell, a writer and chef. Additionally, Cannell has written about Hyacinth and Primrose Tramwell, a pair of eccentric sisters who run the Flowers Detection Agency. Her writing is influenced by her English heritage and her experiences living in the United States.

Before becoming a published author, Cannell took an English 110 class at Illinois Central College, where she was encouraged by her teacher to write for publication. Seven years later, she sold her first short story. Her first novel, The Thin Woman, was published in 1984 and has since been selected as one of the 100 Favorite Mysteries of the Twentieth Century by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association. In 2014, Cannell received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Malice Domestic. She has published a total of eighteen novels and a collection of short stories. Cannell's writing has been well-received by critics and readers alike, earning her a devoted fanbase and recognition within the mystery genre.