Regan, Linda 1959–

PERSONAL:

Born November 5, 1959, in London, England; married Brian Murphy (an actor), March 14, 1993.

ADDRESSES:

Agent—Andrew Manson Personal Management, 288 Munster Rd., London SW6 6BQ, England. E-mail—lindareganonline.co.uk.

CAREER:

Actress and writer. Has acted on stage, television, and film. Movies include Carry On England, 1977, and The Last Horror Movie, 2003. Television credits include British series Hi-De-HI!, 1984-1988; Birds of a Feather, 1991; Framed, 1993; The Knock, 1995; Harry and Cosh, 2002-04; Doctors, 2004; Holby City, 2007. Appeared in numerous stage plays in Great Britain, including You're Only Young Twice, national tour; Alan Aykbourn's Norman Conquests, tour; Stepping Out, The Mill at Sonning; The Rivals and Norman Conquests, both at Hever Castle Open Air Theatre; MacBeth, Cannizaro Open Air Theatre; Day in the Death of Joe Egg, Chelmsford Civic Theatre; Filthy Firar, Orange Tree Theatre; Dirty Linen, West End; The Legend, in the role of Marylin Monroe; Once in a Lifetime, directed by Trevor Nunn, in the role of Florabelle. Has also acted with the Royal Shakespeare Company, performed book readings, and worked as a resident actress on BBC Radio 4 plays.

WRITINGS:

"DI BANHAM AND SERGEANT ALISON GRAINGER" CRIME SERIES

Behind You!, Creme de la Crime (Chesterfield, England), 2006.

Passion Killers, Creme de la Crime (Chesterfield, England), 2007.

SIDELIGHTS:

A working actress in Great Britain since she was a child, Linda Regan uses her background working on the stage for her "DI Banham and Sergeant Alison Grainger" crime series. "My head is full of crime fiction," Regan noted in an interview on the Shots Web site. "I've always wanted to write it down—and now I've got the chance." The first book in the series, Behind You!, introduces readers to Detective Inspector Banham, who is still trying to recover emotionally from the murder of his wife and baby daughter ten years earlier. The novel finds the inspector investigating the death of an actress killed by a stage weight falling on her during a performance on the British pantomime circuit. Before long, with the help of Sergeant Grainger, whom the inspector secretly loves, the inspector knows the death was no accident. Another murder soon occurs, and Banham and Grainger also face a hostage crisis. Booklist contributor Emily Melton noted "the combination of offbeat characters and forceful prose." Several reviewers praised the author's evocation of the British theatre life. "The book certainly brings the unique ambience of small-town pantomime to vivid life," commented a contributor to the Shots Web site. Sharon Wheeler, writing on ReviewingTheEvidence.com, noted that the author is "good on the world she knows best—the theatre."