Joyce Yarrow is an award-winning author known for her literary novels of suspense, particularly those with international settings. Her acclaimed Zahara Series includes "Zahara and the Lost Books of Light," which received five stars from Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine and was named a Best Book in Historical Fiction by the PenCraft Awards in 2024. The novel has been translated into Spanish and Portuguese. Its sequel, "Stolen Lives," earned the 2024 Firebird Award for International Suspense. Yarrow's standalone coming-of-age novel, "Sandstorm," won the gold medal in Women's Fiction at the 2022 CIPA/Evvy Awards.
Yarrow's writing career began in New York City, where she drew inspiration from urban life, later relocating to Seattle. Her works often explore themes of mystery, cultural intersections, and human resilience. Beyond the Zahara Series, she has authored suspense novels such as "Ask the Dead," "Russian Reckoning," and "Rivers Run Back," co-written with Arindam Roy. A Pushcart Prize nominee, Yarrow has also published short stories and essays, contributing to her reputation as a versatile storyteller. She is an active member of Sisters in Crime and has led workshops on the role of setting in mystery writing at conferences in the U.S. and India.