|
|
|
|
|
|
About the Author...
Laraine Stephens was born and raised in the bayside suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. She graduated with an Arts degree from the University of Melbourne, majoring in History and English, and went on to earn a Diploma of Education and a Graduate Diploma in Librarianship. She worked in secondary schools as a Head of Library and, on retirement, decided to turn her hand to the craft of crime writing. She is a member of Writers Victoria, Sisters in Crime (Australia), the Australian Crime Writers Association, and the Crime Writers Association of the United Kingdom. When she’s not writing, she travels to far-flung destinations, such as Iceland, Egypt and the Galapagos Islands, with the love of her life, Bob. She also enjoys her work as a volunteer guide at the Old Melbourne Gaol, playing golf and Mahjong, reading and eating out. Laraine has two adult children, Trevor and Angela, son-in-law Sam, granddaughters Eloise and Madeleine, and a maladjusted red toy poodle, Zoe. |
The Reggie da Costa Mysteries
The Death Mask Murders (2021) Deadly Intent (2022) A Deadly Game (2023) Lies and Deception (2024) News and Reviews... “In this delightful historical crime novel, Australian author Laraine Stephens delivers an enthralling page turner in Deadly Intent. Readers will enjoy being transported back in time with an intriguing set of characters, led by Reggie, and a great setting to contrast and go hand in hand with the specter of a fiendish killer on the loose.” — R. Barri Flowers, award winning criminologist and author “Chock-full of delightful details and cinematic settings, Stephens paints an enthralling picture of Australia in the 1920s. Her protagonist—the flamboyant, well-dressed, moustache-smoothing, investigative reporter Reggie da Costa—is quite the charming rogue. He meets his match in the spirited Dotty, who finds she rather enjoys the darker side of Melbourne that Reggie introduces her to. Together, they puzzle through an alarming number of local murders. When his editor demands that he stick to reporting instead of sleuthing, this only fuels da Costa’s determination to continue seeking what he views as his mission…bring criminals to justice with the printed word as his sword! This is a charming and wonderfully atmospheric novel, full of riddles and flirting and endearing characters; but prepare yourself for a good dose of gritty, early-twentieth-century crime, too. Grab a cuppa, sit in a comfy armchair, put your feet up, and get ready to drift into another time and place.” — Kerry Peresta, author of the Olivia Callahan Suspense series. For A Deadly Game “Laraine Stephens’ third Reggie da Costa novel, A Deadly Game, is a delight. Set in 1920s Melbourne, it is a wild ride from beginning to end. Full of exquisite historical detail, flashy real-life characters and an engaging detective in the form of Reggie, it is an entertaining and very interesting historical mystery. Historical crime fiction does not get much more enjoyable than this. A terrific, fun read!” —Jeff Popple, Murdermayhemandlongdogs.com “Author Laraine Stephens has the knack, and the characters, to bring 1920's Melbourne to life. From the seedy back streets, to upper-crust nightclubs, crime reporter Reggie da Costa leads the charge, ably assisted by brother and sister combo Dusty and Ruby, in the third novel in this excellent series.” – AustCrimeFiction For Lies and Deception “Snake oil cures, confidence men, fortune telling and murder! Laraine Stephens is in fine form with her fourth novel about 1920s Melbourne crime reporter Reggie da Costa, Lies and Deception. Set in a well imagined historical Melbourne, Lies and Deception is a fast moving and highly entertaining mystery that contains just the right amount of fascinating side detail. Full of twists and surprises, it is a very engaging read that will appeal to fans of Kerry Greenwood’s Phryne Fisher novels.” — Jeff Popple, Murdermayhemandlongdogs.com “A fascinating journey into 1925 Melbourne, Australia, packed with snake oil remedies, con men and women, a tarot card reader and a cryptic clue left at two murder scenes! A real who-dunnit solved by suave investigative crime reporter Reggie da Costa. I confess I couldn't identify the killer...a real feat!” – Susan Waller Lehmann (true crime author, criminal defense investigator) |
Connect With Laraine