Mary Jane Maffini

Mary Jane Maffini is a celebrated Canadian author, born in Sydney, Nova Scotia. She has a Bachelor of Arts with honors and a Master of Library Sciences from Dalhousie University. Maffini's professional background is diverse, including positions at The Brewers' Association of Canada, Statistics Canada, the Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information, and co-ownership of Prime Crime Mystery Bookstore. Her career in libraries and bookstores has given her a unique insight into the mystery genre.

Maffini is a prolific writer, having authored three mystery series under her own name. The first series features crochety lawyer Camilla MacPhee, who investigates mysteries in Ottawa. The second series stars failed romance writer, Fiona Silk, who hides away in West Quebec. The third series features professional organizer Charlotte Adams, who solves crimes in upstate New York. In addition to her solo work, Maffini, writing as Victoria Abbott, collaborates with her daughter, Victoria Maffini, on the book collector series. The third book in this series, The Wolfe Widow, was published in September 2014.

Maffini is an active member of the writing community, serving as a former President of Crime Writers of Canada and a former member of the board of directors of the Canadian Booksellers Association. She is a frequent speaker on writing mysteries and the importance of Canadian crime fiction. Despite her professional accomplishments, Maffini has a playful side. She is a member of the Ladies' Killing Circle but assures us that she has never killed anyone. She currently resides in Manotick, Ontario, with her long-suffering husband, two dachshunds, and the ghost of her beloved Corgoid, Smudge. Maffini is also a dedicated volunteer in the Ottawa Therapy Dogs R.E.A.D. program, where she and her dog, Lily, work to improve children's literacy.