Valerie Tate is a Canadian author best known for her Dunbarton Mystery series, which blends cozy crime with engaging characters and distinctive settings. Her debut novel, "Catnip," introduces readers to protagonists Christopher Mallory and Alicia Dunbar, alongside their mischievous cat Marmalade. The series expanded with titles such as "Horse Sense," which draws from Tate's passion for dressage, and "Frog Legs," a 2017 Chanticleer International Mystery and Mayhem Award finalist. Other installments, including "Scapegoat" and "Chameleon," explore darker themes while maintaining the charm of the fictional lakeside town of Dunbarton, inspired by her childhood visits to Kincardine, Ontario.
Tate holds a degree in English Literature and a teaching certificate from the University of Toronto, where she studied advanced writing under the university's Author in Residence. Her early career included the publication of the short story "Deadly Quintet" in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, later anthologized among other notable works. An equestrian enthusiast, Tate often incorporates her love for horses into her narratives, as seen in "Horse Sense." Her later works, such as "Dragon" and the holiday-themed "The Reindeer Caper," continue to expand the Dunbarton universe with intricate plots and returning antagonists. Residing in a historic Ontario cottage, Tate balances writing with time spent caring for her horse, Devon, and her Jack Russell Terrier, Jamie.