Maureen Jennings
Maureen Jennings (born 1939) is a British Canadian writer, most well-known for the Detective Murdoch Series, the basis for the television series Murdoch Mysteries.[2]
Maureen Jennings | |
---|---|
Born | 1939 (age 81–82)[1] Birmingham, United Kingdom[1] |
Nationality | British Canadian[2] |
Occupation | Writer |
Known for | The Murdoch Mysteries |
Biography
Maureen Jennings was born and grew up in Birmingham, England.[1][3][4] She attended Saltley Grammar School.[2] Jennings emigrated to Canada with her mother when she was seventeen.[1][2][3][4] She studied psychology and philosophy at the University of Windsor, and an MA in English Literature at the University of Toronto.[1][3][5] Jennings initially taught at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, and later practised as a psychotherapist.[1][2][5] Her first successful writing was stage plays.[6]
Jennings is best known as the author of the Detective Murdoch Series, which has been turned into a television series, the Murdoch Mysteries.[1] As of 2019, her most recent novel, Heat Wave, introduces Murdoch's son as a police detective in 1936.[7]
The television drama Bomb Girls was based on a concept Jennings developed.[8]
Jennings was awarded the Grant Allen Award in 2011 as a pioneer in crime fiction.[9]
Bibliography
Detective Murdoch series
John Wilson Murray, who was appointed as Ontario's first government detective in 1875, "was an important inspiration" for Jennings, and led to the development of the character William Murdoch.[10]
- Except the Dying (1997), adapted into the TV film Except the Dying in May 2004
- Under the Dragon's Tail (1998), adapted into the TV film Under the Dragon's Tail in September 2004
- Poor Tom Is Cold (2001), adapted into the TV film Poor Tom Is Cold in May 2005
- Let Loose the Dogs (2003), adapted for episode 6 of Murdoch Mysteries in February 2008
- Night's Child (2005)
- Vices of My Blood (2006)
- A Journeyman to Grief (2007)
- Let Darkness Bury the Dead (2017)
Christine Morris series
- Does Your Mother Know? (2006)
- The K Handshape (2008)
Detective Inspector Tom Tyler series
- Season of Darkness (2011)
- Beware This Boy (2012)
- No Known Grave (2014)
- Dead Ground in Between (2016)
Charlotte Frayne, PI
- Heat Wave: A Paradise Café Mystery (2019)
Non-fiction
- The Map of Your Mind: Journeys Into Creative Expression (2001)
References
- Napier, Jim (14 May 2012). "Maureen Jennings". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
- Laws, Roz (3 January 2014). "Writer's love of murder mysteries inspired by Sherlock". Birmingham Post. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
- Shaw, T (26 October 2013). "No mystery about it, Jennings loves TV's Murdoch". Windsor Star. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
- Maureen Jennings (7 November 2017). Murdoch Mysteries: Let Darkness Bury The Dead. Titan Books. pp. 322–. ISBN 978-1-78329-494-7. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
- "Jennings, Maureen". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
- Soknacki, David. "Scarborough Theatre Guild presents the world premiere of Maureen Jennings' Death in a Black Suit". Scarborough Mirror. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
- "Heat Wave". 49th Shelf. The Association of Canadian Publishers. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
- Maureen Jennings (2 August 2013). Beware This Boy. Titan Books. pp. 349–. ISBN 978-1-78116-857-8. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
- "Crime Fiction Awards". Omnimystery. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
- Edwards, Peter. "Murdoch Mysteries TV series inspired by real Toronto detective". Toronto Star. Retrieved January 3, 2014.