Sara Woods was a British mystery writer who was born as Eileen B Hutton on March 7, 1922, in Bradford, Yorkshire. She received her early education at the Sacred Heart Convent in Filey, Yorkshire. Woods is one of the pen names used by the prolific writer Lana Hutton Bowen-Judd, who also wrote under the names Anne Burton, Margaret Leek, and Mary Chillis.
Bowen-Judd, who wrote under the Sara Woods pseudonym, is best known for her Anthony Maitland novels, which feature an English barrister named Anthony Maitland as the main protagonist. She wrote a total of 49 mysteries featuring Maitland, with the first novel in the series, Bloody Instructions, published in 1961. Bowen-Judd's own experiences provided much of the information used in her novels. During the Second World War, she worked in a bank and as a solicitor's clerk in London, where she gained valuable insights into the legal system.
After getting married to Anthony George Bowen-Judd on April 25, 1946, Bowen-Judd ran a pig breeding farm between 1948 and 1954. In 1957, they moved to Nova Scotia, Canada, where Bowen-Judd worked as a registrar for St. Mary's University until 1964. Her last years were spent living with her husband at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Bowen-Judd received support from her husband for writing several of her books, including those published under the Sara Woods pseudonym.
In addition to the Anthony Maitland novels, Bowen-Judd also wrote the Richard Trenton books under the name Anne Burton, the Anne Marryat books under the name Margaret Leek, and the Jeremy Locke books under the name Mary Chillis. Bowen-Judd's writing career was incredibly prolific, and she published numerous novels under various pseudonyms throughout her life. Her works continue to be popular among mystery and thriller fans, and she is remembered as one of the most talented and versatile writers of her time.