Green, Christine

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GREEN, Christine

PERSONAL: Born in Luton, England.

ADDRESSES: Home—Wolverhampton, England. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Walker and Company, 435 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014.

CAREER: Mystery novelist. Worked as a nurse in Hampstead, England and the Royal National Throat, Nose, and Ear Hospital in London, England. Worked as a teacher and midwife.

WRITINGS:

"chief inspector connor o'neill and detective sgt. fran wilson" series

Death in the Country, 1994.

Die in My Dreams, 1995.

Fatal Cut, Severn House (New York, NY), 1996.

"kate kinsella" series

Deadly Errand, Walker (New York, NY), 1992.

Deadly Admirer, Walker (New York, NY), 1993.

Deadly Practice, Walker (New York, NY), 1995.

Deadly Partners, Walker (New York, NY), 1996.

Deadly Bond, Severn House (New York, NY), 2002.

Deadly Echo, Severn House (New York, NY), 2003.

"detective inspector thomas rydell and sergeant denise caldecote" series

Fire Angels, Severn House (New York, NY), 2001.

Vain Hope, Severn House (New York, NY), 2002.

other

Coronation Street: The Way to Victory, Andre Deutsch (London, England), 2000.

Coronation Street: The War Years, Andre Deutsch (London, England), 2001.

SIDELIGHTS: British mystery novelist Christine Green has published numerous books, beginning in 1991 with Deadly Errand, the first installment in her "Kate Kinsella" series. In a Nursing Times review, Richard Morris referred to Green, a longtime nurse, as "a household name among fans of the stiletto knife and mortuary slab." After receiving her medical training in London, Green started her nursing career at a hospital north of the city and subsequently spent thirty years in the profession before turning her full attentions to writing in 1998. Much of her writing is based on her experiences during the years she spent as a nurse, and most of her novels are set in hospitals or other medical facilities. In the Nursing Times article, Green told Morris that she encountered all types of bizarre characters and situations during her days nursing, which she was able to draw upon when writing. "I've used my experiences of atmospheres and various problems people suffer several times in my books," she told Morris. "If I hadn't had a background in nursing I would definitely have found it harder to write mystery books." Green has said that mystery novels always intrigued her. Her own writings fall within the police procedural genre. "Crime holds a fascination for people," she told Morris.

During her career, Green has developed three series of novels. Most of her books, including Deadly Errand, feature protagonist Kate Kinsella, a English nurse turned private detective who solves crimes of a medical nature. In Deadly Errand, the thirty-something Kinsella is hired to solve the murder of nurse Jacky Byfield, who is stabbed to death while working at an English hospital. In addition to being lauded by the Crime Writers' Association, the book received its share of positive critical reviews. For example, a contributor for Publishers Weekly called it a "lively and impressive debut." Other books in the "Kinsella" series include Deadly Admirer, Deadly Practice, Deadly Partners, and Deadly Bond. Many literary critics felt the fourth installment in the series, Deadly Partners, was one of Green's strongest novels. The story finds Kinsella running the Medical and Nursing Investigation Agency, but having trouble paying the rent. She accepts a case in which she must solve the disappearance of Nigel Carter, a rich hotel owner, who is despised by many and missed by few. Referring to the book as one of Green's "best works," Harriet Klausner wrote in Armchair Detective that, along with the series, the novel works because Kinsella isn't the typical methodical, suave detective. "A prime reason the Kate Kinsella series is such a success is that the female protagonist knows that she is a bumbling sleuth who makes many mistakes," Klausner wrote.

Although less successful, Green's other major series includes three installments beginning with Death in the Country, featuring Detective Sergeant Fran Wilson and Chief Inspector Connor O'Neill. The pair is an unlikely duo: Irishman O'Neill is a veteran and likes his libations, whereas Wilson is young and toes the line. Other novels in the series, include Die in My Dreams and Fatal Cut.

With her 2001 effort, Fire Angels, Green began a new series featuring Detective Inspector Thomas Rydell and Sergeant Denise "Denni" Caldecote, who work together to solve a series of rapes in a rural English village. Although the book received mixed reviews, critic Jenny McLarin of Booklist called it "another in a long line of successful British procedurals starring mismatched but oddly complementary cops."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

books

Detecting Women 2, Purple Moon (Dearborn, MI), 1996.

periodicals

Armchair Detective, spring, 1997, p. 240.

Booklist, January 1, 1997, pp. 824-825; August, 2001, p. 2096.

Kirkus Reviews, May 15, 1992, p. 638; October 15, 1993, p. 1294; April 15, 1995, p. 513; November 15, 1996, p. 1635; December 1, 1999, p. 1848.

Library Journal, July, 1995, p. 127; January, 2000, p. 159; March 1, 2002, p. 144.

Los Angeles Times Book Review, January 9, 1994, p. 8.

Nursing Times, July 23, 1997, pp. 44-45.

Publishers Weekly, June 15, 1992, pp. 88-89; November 1, 1993, p. 70; June 19, 1995, p. 53; November 11, 1996, p. 60; August 6, 2001, p. 65; February 18, 2002, p. 79.