Donovan, Felicia 1960-

PERSONAL:

Born 1960; children: two. Education: B.A.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Newfields, NH. Agent—Jill Grosjean, The Jill Grosjean Literary Agency, 1390 Millstone Rd., Sag Harbor, NY 11963. E-mail—felicia@feliciadonovan.com.

CAREER:

Writer. Worked as a teacher until 1998 and then in a police department.

MEMBER:

The International Association of Chiefs of Police, International Association of Crime Writers, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Scarlett Letters (Sisters in Crime, New England chapter), New Hampshire Police Association.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Scripps-Howard Foundation Journalism Scholarship.

WRITINGS:

The Black Widow Agency (first book in the "Black Widow Agency" mystery series), Midnight Ink (Woodbury, MN), 2007.

Spun Tales (second book in the "Black Widow Agency" mystery series), Midnight Ink (Woodbury, MN), 2008.

Author of the Felicia Donovan Web log.

SIDELIGHTS:

Felicia Donovan began writing at an early age and completed her first novel by the time she graduated from high school. After obtaining a B.A. in English education, Felicia became a teacher. In 1998, she left teaching to work in a police department, where she was introduced to computer forensics. Her first book, 2007's The Black Widow Agency, the first book in the "Black Widow Agency" mystery series, incorporates some of her experiences in law enforcement.

Called a "sharp series debut" by a Publishers Weekly critic, The Black Widow Agency focuses on an agency of the same name formed by four women who seem to have little in common except their desire to bring justice to women who have been wronged by the judicial system. Heading up the agency are Kate Mahoney, a former undercover cop, and Alexandria Axelrod, a computer genius and former hacker. Their two assistants are Jane, who became a certified public accountant (CPA) after her husband left with all their money, and Margo, who left her husband after he had her unsuspectingly deliver cocaine for him. The group's current case involves automotive engineer Amber Gordon who lost custody of her daughter after her husband framed her as a heroin addict. Amber also lost her job at the automotive plant, which happens to be owned by her father-in-law. Whether posing as a journalist or using fine-tuned computer skills to gather information, the four women take unusual risks to try to clear Amber's name. According to Lillian Porter in her review of the book for Bloodstained Book Reviews, the author's "experience in law enforcement technology made the technological aspects of the story realistic." In a review of The Black Widow Agency, Mystery Reader reviewer Jennifer Monahan Winberry remarked upon the "unusual group of New England women," and asserted that "this fast read is entertaining, and there is something about the women that will make readers interested enough to look for their next adventure."

In an interview posted on her home page, Donovan commented on what she believes makes a writer: "I've met many writers and we all seem to share some very similar traits and characteristics. There is an introspectiveness about us. It is as if we are all standing on the outer perimeter of a circle, looking in, watching. I've felt the presence of that perimeter throughout my life, as if I'll never cross it, nor do I want to cross it, if it means I cannot be an observer. Some may mistake that for aloofness, shyness, emotional distance, but I see it as the need to take everything in."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, July 1, 2008, Whitney Scott, review of Spun Tales, p. 44.

Kirkus Reviews, August 15, 2007, review of The Black Widow Agency.

Publishers Weekly, August 6, 2007, review of The Black Widow Agency, p. 172.

ONLINE

Black Widow Agency Web site,http://www.blackwidowagency.com/ (July 23, 2008), "Black Widow Agency" mystery series information.

Bloodstained Book Reviews,http://bloodstainedbookreviews.blogspot.com/ (February 8, 2008), Lillian Porter, review of The Black Widow Agency.

Felicia Donovan Home Page,http://www.feliciadonovan.com (July 23, 2008).

Felicia Donovan MySpace Page,http://www.myspace.com/feliciadonovan (July 28, 2008).

Mystery Reader,http://www.themysteryreader.com/ (July 23, 2008), Jennifer Monahan Winberry, review of The Black Widow Agency.