Elaine Viets

Elaine Viets is a highly accomplished American author, best known for her cozy mystery novels. She has written several series, including the Dead-End Job and Josie Marcus, Mystery Shopper series. Viets has had a successful career as a journalist, serving as a regular columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch for 25 years and also hosting the local light-news television program Viets Beat, for which she won Emmy Awards in 1989 and 1990. After moving to Washington D.C., she wrote a syndicated column for the newspaper, which was distributed internationally by United Feature Syndicate in New York.

Beyond her journalistic accomplishments, Viets is also a prolific and celebrated author in the mystery genre. She has won numerous awards for her writing, including the Agatha and Anthony Awards for her short story, "Wedding Knife," in CHESAPEAKE CRIMES. Viets has also served on the national boards of the Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. She currently resides in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with her husband, where she continues to write and publish her novels.

Viets' work is known for its unique and creative take on the mystery genre, with intricate narratives and well-drawn characters that keep readers engaged. She has built a strong reputation for her ability to weave together compelling stories that draw on a wide range of stylistic influences. With a worldwide audience, Viets' work continues to grow in popularity, attracting new readers every day.

Throughout her career, Viets has demonstrated a commitment to the craft of writing and a dedication to creating high-quality, engaging mystery novels. Her contributions to the genre have been recognized with numerous awards and accolades, and she remains a respected and beloved figure in the literary world.
Death Investigator Angela Richman Books
# Title Year
1 Brain Storm 2016
2 Fire and Ashes 2017
3 Ice Blonde 2018
4 A Star is Dead 2020
5 Death Grip 2021
6 Life Without Parole 2021
7 Late for His Own Funeral 2022
Francesca Vierling Mystery Books
# Title Year
1 Backstab 1997
2 Rubout 1998
3 The Pink Flamingo Murders 1999
4 Doc in the Box 2000
Dead-End Job Mystery Books
# Title Year
1 Shop Till You Drop 2003
2 Murder Between the Covers 2003
3 Dying to Call You 2004
4 Killer Blonde 2005
5 Just Murdered 2005
6 Murder Unleashed 2006
7 Murder with Reservations 2007
8 Clubbed to Death 2008
9 Killer Cuts 2009
10 Half-Price Homicide 2010
11 Pumped for Murder 2011
12 Final Sail 2012
13 Board Stiff 2013
14 Catnapped! 2014
15 Checked Out 2015
16 The Art of Murder 2016
Josie Marcus: Mystery Shopper Books
# Title Year
1 Dying in Style 2005
2 High Heels are Murder 2006
3 Accessory to Murder 2007
4 Murder with All the Trimmings 2008
5 The Fashion Hound Murders 2009
6 An Uplifting Murder 2010
7 Death on a Platter 2011
8 Murder is a Piece of Cake 2012
9 Fixing to Die 2013
10 A Dog Gone Murder 2014
Short Stories/Novellas
# Title Year
1 Red Meat 2003
2 Sex and Bingo 2003
3 Wedding Knife 2004
4 After the Fall 2006
5 Dog Eat Dog 2020
Short Story Collections
# Title Year
1 Urban Affairs 1988
2 Deal with the Devil 2018
Non-Fiction Books
# Title Year
1 Viets Guide to Sex, Travel and Anything Else That Will Sell This Book 1993
2 St. Louis 1995
3 How to Commit Monogamy 1997
Elaine Viets Anthologies
# Title Year
1 Blood on Their Hands 2003
2 High Stakes 2003
3 Show Business is Murder 2004
4 Drop-Dead Blonde 2005
5 Many Bloody Returns 2007
6 Crimes by Moonlight 2010
7 Writes of Passage 2014
8 The Beat of Black Wings 2020
9 The Great Filling Station Holdup 2021