Karen Maitland is an English author who has made a name for herself in the genre of historical mystery and thriller novels, with a particular focus on medieval times. Born in 1956 in England, Maitland spent her childhood in the Mediterranean sea, after being born in Malta. From a young age, Maitland had a keen interest in literature and storytelling. She would often create individual characters with distinct traits, behaviors, and adventures, foreshadowing her future career as a novelist.
Maitland's educational background is as impressive as her writing career. She holds an honors degree in Human Communication and a doctorate degree in Psycholinguistics. These academic achievements have undoubtedly equipped her with a deep understanding of language, communication, and the human mind, all of which have informed her writing and contributed to her success as an author.
In addition to writing under her own name, Maitland also writes as KJ Maitland. Under this pseudonym, she has published a historical thriller series, including 'Rivers of Treason', 'The Drowned City', 'Traitor in the Ice', and the upcoming 'The Charnel Garden'. These novels, set in the Jacobean era, follow the adventures of Daniel Pursglove as he becomes embroiled in various mysteries and conspiracies.
Maitland is also a member of the Medieval Murderers, a group of six historical crime writers that includes Philip Gooden, Susanna Gregory, Michael Jecks, Bernard Knight, Ian Morson, and C.J. Sansom. Together, they have written several joint murder-mystery novels, including 'The Sacred Stone', 'Hill of Bones', 'The First Murder', 'The False Virgin', and 'The Deadliest Sin'. These collaborative works have been published by Simon & Schuster and have been well-received by critics and readers alike.
Maitland's standalone medieval thrillers, written under her own name, have also been successful. Her debut novel, 'Company of Liars', was set during the Black Death in 1348 and was followed by other popular works such as 'The Owl Killers', 'The Gallows Curse', 'Falcons of Fire and Ice', 'The Vanishing Witch', 'The Raven's Head', 'The Plague Charmer', and 'A Gathering of Ghosts'. These novels showcase Maitland's ability to create vivid and immersive historical settings while weaving compelling mystery and suspense narratives.