Janet Dawson is a successful American author, best known for her mystery and thriller novels. She is the creator of the Jeri Howard series, which features a private investigator based in Oakland, as well as the California Zephyr Mystery series. Dawson's first book in the Jeri Howard series, Kindred Crimes, was particularly well-received, winning the St. Martin's Press/Private Eye Writers of America contest for best first private eye novel.
Dawson was born and raised in Colorado, and studied journalism at the University of Colorado. After graduating, she worked as a newspaper reporter in her home state before joining the US Navy. During her time in the military, she worked as a journalist, producing features and news for the public affairs offices in Pensacola, Florida, and Guam. Dawson fell in love with the San Francisco Bay area during a brief stint there while in the Navy, and later made it her home. She returned to school while serving in the military and earned a master's degree in history from California State University.
In addition to her work as a journalist and author, Dawson has worked in the legal field and on the staff of the University of California, Berkeley. She is a long-time member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. Dawson's writing is influenced by her diverse background and experiences, and she has a talent for creating complex and engaging characters and storylines. She currently lives in Alameda in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, where she writes full-time and enjoys gardening, the theatre, music, and museums. She is also a self-proclaimed "crazy cat lady," and has a deep love for animals.