Linda Barnes is a successful American author, best known for her mystery novels. She is the writer of the Carlotta Carlyle and Michael Spraggue series. Barnes was born in Detroit, Michigan, where she grew up before moving to Boston for college. After completing her graduation with honors from the School of Applied and Fine Arts at Boston University, she began her career as a drama teacher in Chelmsford and Lexington, both in Massachusetts. It was during her tenure as a drama teacher that she wrote her first plays, including the award-winning play 'Wings.'
Barnes' writing career took off after she entered a one-act play festival sponsored by the Boston Globe and found that she could not find a play that fit the number of roles she needed for her students. She decided to write the play herself, and it was a success, leading her to write more plays and eventually segueing into mystery fiction. Her first Carlotta Carlyle short story, 'Lucky Penny,' won an Anthony Award, and her first Carlyle novel, 'A Trouble of Fools,' was nominated for an Edgar and a Shamus and won the American Mystery Award. Barnes' writing has been well-received throughout her career, with her most recent Carlyle novel, 'Lie Down with the Devil,' being named one of the Best Mysteries of 2008 by Publisher's Weekly. Her latest novel, 'The Perfect Ghost,' is a stand-alone mystery that was published in April 2013. Barnes currently resides in Boston, Massachusetts, with her husband.
Barnes has spoken about how her upbringing in Detroit and her love for Motown music have influenced her writing. She has also talked about how her experiences walking through the cobbled streets of Boston and riding the T have contributed to her appreciation for the city's history and culture. Barnes' ability to draw on her personal experiences and incorporate them into her writing has no doubt contributed to her success as a mystery writer.