Gayle Trent

Gayle Trent is a renowned American author, hailing from Southwest Virginia. She is widely known for her expertise in writing cozy mystery and suspense novels. Under the pseudonym Amanda Lee, Trent has penned several successful series, including the Myrtle Crumb, Daphne Martin, and Embroidery Mysteries series. Her writing is admired for its unique blend of creativity, entertainment, and encouragement, making her a popular choice among readers who enjoy a good cozy mystery.

Before becoming a full-time author, Trent worked in accounting and legal roles. However, her true passion for writing, embroidery, and baking led her to pursue a career as a writer and editor. She is now a dedicated writer, mother, wife, and homemaker, often referring to herself as the "chief cook and bottle washer" in her household. Trent's passion for her hobbies is evident in her work, as she often incorporates her love for embroidery and baking into her stories.

In addition to her successful series, Trent has also written a standalone novel, as well as numerous blog posts for various websites. She enjoys sharing her writing tips and favorite recipes with her readers through her blog and other online platforms. Trent is also the author of the Daphne Martin Cake Decorating Mystery series, which features a heroine who starts a new life in Southwest Virginia after a difficult divorce. The series follows Daphne's journey as she opens a cake-decorating company and navigates the challenges of her new life, including family complications and a rekindled romance.

Trent's work has been well-received by critics and readers alike, with several of her books winning awards and receiving high praise from notable figures in the industry. KILLER WEDDING CAKE, for instance, won a bronze medal in the IPPY Cozy Mystery category for 2016. Trent's writing has been endorsed by authors such as Dean Koontz, who has praised her work for its ability to win over even the most discerning readers. Her books are a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good cozy mystery, and her dedication to her craft is evident in every page she writes.
Myrtle Crumb Books
# Title Year
1 Between a Clutch and a Hard Place 2004
2 When Good Bras Go Bad 2012
3 Claus of Death 2013
4 Soup...Er...Myrtle! 2014
5 Perp and Circumstance 2015
6 The Party Line 2015
Daphne Martin Mystery Books
# Title Year
1 Murder Takes the Cake 2008
2 Dead Pan 2009
3 Killer Sweet Tooth 2011
4 Battered to Death 2013
5 Killer Wedding Cake 2015
Down South Café Mystery Books (as Gayle Leeson)
# Title Year
1 The Calamity Café 2016
2 Silence of the Jams 2017
3 Honey-Baked Homicide 2017
4 Apples and Alibis 2019
5 Fruit Baskets and Holiday Caskets 2020
6 Truffles and Tragedy 2021
7 Cake and I Scream 2023
Embroidery Mysteries Books (as Amanda Lee)
# Title Year
1 The Quick and the Thread 2010
2 Stitch Me Deadly 2011
3 Thread Reckoning 2011
4 The Long Stitch Good Night 2012
5 Thread on Arrival 2012
6 Cross Stitch Before Dying 2013
7 Thread End 2014
8 Wicked Stitch 2015
9 The Stitching Hour 2015
10 Better Off Thread 2016
Ghostly Fashionista Mystery Books (as Gayle Leeson)
# Title Year
1 Designs On Murder 2019
2 Perils and Lace 2020
3 Christmas Cloches and Corpses 2020
4 Buttons and Blows 2021
Kinsey Falls Books (as Gayle Leeson)
# Title Year
1 Hightail It to Kinsey Falls 2012
2 Putting Down Roots in Kinsey Falls 2018
3 Sleighing It in Kinsey Falls 2018
Victoria Square Mystery Books
# Title Year
1 A Crafty Killing 2010
2 The Walled Flower 2012
3 One Hot Murder 2013
4 Dead, Bath, and Beyond 2016
5 Yule Be Dead 2018
6 Murder Ink 2019
7 A Murderous Misconception 2020
8 Dead Man's Hand 2021
Standalone Novels
# Title Year
1 Photo Finish 1999
2 Anything for a Buck 2001
3 The Mourning Ring 2006
4 Broken Promise 2011
5 The Perfect Woman 2012
6 In Her Blood 2015
7 The Flame 2016
Non-Fiction Books
# Title Year
1 Laughing and Learning 2003
Movie Memorabilia Books (as Gayle Leeson)
# Title Year
1 We'll Always Have Murder 2023
Literatia Books (as Gayle Leeson)
# Title Year
1 An Eyre of Mystery 2022
2 A Tale of Two Enemies 2023
Mossy Creek Books
# Title Year
1 Mossy Creek 2001
2 Reunion at Mossy Creek 2002
3 Summer in Mossy Creek 2003
4 Blessings of Mossy Creek 2004
5 A Day in Mossy Creek 2006
6 At Home in Mossy Creek 2007
7 Gone But Not Forgotten: Novella 2008
8 Critters of Mossy Creek 2009
9 Homecoming in Mossy Creek 2011
10 Closer Than They Appear: Novella 2014
11 Christmas in Mossy Creek 2017
Gayle Trent Anthologies
# Title Year
1 Mysteries, Midsummer Sun and Murders 2022
2 Deadly Traditions 2022