Anthea Mary Fraser (born 1930) is a British novelist, known for her mystery thrillers. Her mother was a published novelist and Anthea began composing poems and stories before she could write. At the age of five she announced that she wanted to be an author.
[''The Twelve Apostles'' by Anthea Fraser, biographical cover insert] However, despite having been a prolific writer in school, she did not become a professional writer until after her two daughters were born.
Her first professional publications were short stories. Her first
novel
A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, typically written in prose and published as a book. The present English word for a long work of prose fiction derives from the for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itsel ...
was published in 1970. Her first significant success was with her 1974 novel ''Laura Possessed'', which had a
paranormal theme, and was followed by 6 other similarly themed novels. She then wrote some romantic suspense stories before turning to writing
crime fiction
Crime fiction, detective story, murder mystery, mystery novel, and police novel are terms used to describe narratives that centre on criminal acts and especially on the investigation, either by an amateur or a professional detective, of a crime, ...
.
She has created two mystery novel series, the first featuring '
Detective Chief Inspector
Chief inspector (Ch Insp) is a rank used in police forces which follow the British model. In countries outside Britain, it is sometimes referred to as chief inspector of police (CIP).
Usage by country Australia
The rank of chief inspector is use ...
David Webb' with the Shillingham police. There are 16 novels in this series, the last twelve of which bear titles based on the lyrics to the traditional
English folk song
The folk music of England is a tradition-based music which has existed since the later medieval period. It is often contrasted with courtly, classical and later commercial music. Folk music traditionally was preserved and passed on orally wit ...
''
Green Grow the Rushes, O
Green Grow the Rushes, O (alternatively "Ho" or "Oh") (also known as "The Twelve Prophets", "The Carol of the Twelve Numbers", "The Teaching Song", "The Dilly Song", or "The Ten Commandments"), is an English folk song (Roud #133). It is sometimes ...
''.
The second series features 'Rona Parish', a
biographer and
freelance journalist
''Freelance'' (sometimes spelled ''free-lance'' or ''free lance''), ''freelancer'', or ''freelance worker'', are terms commonly used for a person who is self-employed and not necessarily committed to a particular employer long-term. Freelance w ...
.
Anthea Fraser served as secretary of the
Crime Writers' Association
The Crime Writers' Association (CWA) is a specialist authors’ organisation in the United Kingdom, most notable for its Dagger awards for the best crime writing of the year, and the Diamond Dagger awarded to an author for lifetime achievement. T ...
from 1986 to 1996. She has also published five novels under the
pen name
A pen name, also called a ''nom de plume'' or a literary double, is a pseudonym (or, in some cases, a variant form of a real name) adopted by an author and printed on the title page or by-line of their works in place of their real name.
A pen na ...
'Vanessa Graham'.
Novels
* ''Designs of Annabelle'', 1971
* ''In the Balance'', 1973 (short story)
* ''Laura Possessed: A Novel of Suspense'', 1974
* ''Home Through the Dark'', 1974
* ''Whistler’s Lane: A Novel of Suspense'', 1975
* ''Breath of Brimstone'', 1977
* ''Presence of Mind'', 1978
* ''Island-in-Waiting'', 1979
* ''The Stone'', 1980
* ''The Cavalier Case'', 1991
* ''The Macbeth Prophecy'', 1995
* ''Motive for Murder'', 1996
* ''Dangerous Deception'', 1998
* ''Past Shadows'', 2001
* ''Fathers and Daughters'', 2002
* ''Thicker than Water'', 2009
* ''Shifting Sands'', 2011
* ''the Unburied Past'', 2013
* ''A Tangled Thread'', 2015
* ''Sins of the Fathers'', 2018
Novels featuring DCI David Webb
* ''A Shroud for Delilah'', 1984
* ''A Necessary End'', 1985
* ''Pretty Maids All in a Row'', 1986
* ''Death Speaks Softly'', 1987
* ''The Nine Bright Shiners'', 1987
* ''Six Proud Walkers'', 1988
* ''The April Rainers'', 1989
* ''Symbols at Your Door'', 1990
* ''The Lily-White Boys'' (Also published as ''I'll Sing You Two-O''), 1991
* ''Three, Three the Rivals'', 1992
* ''The Gospel Makers'', 1994
* ''The Seven Stars'', 1995
* ''One Is One and All Alone'', 1996
* ''The Ten Commandments'', 1997
* ''Eleven That Went Up to Heaven'', 1999
* ''The Twelve Apostles'', 1999
Novels featuring Rona Parish
* ''Brought to Book'', 2003
* ''Jigsaw'', 2004
* ''Person or Persons Unknown'', 2005
* ''A Family Concern'', 2006
* ''Rogue in Porcelain'', 2007
* ''Next Door to Murder'', 2008
* ''Unfinished Portrait'', 2010
* ''A Question of Identity'', 2012
* ''Justice Postponed'', 2014
* ''Retribution'', 2016
Novels written under the
pen name
A pen name, also called a ''nom de plume'' or a literary double, is a pseudonym (or, in some cases, a variant form of a real name) adopted by an author and printed on the title page or by-line of their works in place of their real name.
A pen na ...
'Vanessa Graham'
* ''In the Balance'', 1973
* ''Time on Trial'', 1979
* ''Second Time Around'', 1982
* ''The Stand-In'', 1984
* ''Such Men Are Dangerous'', 1988
References
External links
TW Books profileFantastic Fiction profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fraser, Anthea
1930 births
English crime fiction writers
Living people
English women novelists
Women mystery writers