Anthea Fraser
Encyclopedia
Anthea Mary Fraser is a novelist. 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. 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
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
.
She has created two mystery novel series, the first featuring 'Detective Chief Inspector 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 Green Grow the Rushes, O
.
The second series features 'Rona Parish', a biographer and freelance journalist.
Anthea Fraser served as secretary of the Crime Writers' Association
from 1986 to 1996. She has also published five novels under the pen name
'Vanessa Graham'.
Novels featuring DCI David Webb
Novels featuring Rona Parish
Novels written under the pen name
'Vanessa Graham'
Her first professional publications were short stories. Her first novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
was published in 1970. Her first significant success was with her 1974 novel Laura Possessed, which had a paranormal
Paranormal
Paranormal is a general term that designates experiences that lie outside "the range of normal experience or scientific explanation" or that indicates phenomena understood to be outside of science's current ability to explain or measure...
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
Crime fiction is the literary genre that fictionalizes crimes, their detection, criminals and their motives. It is usually distinguished from mainstream fiction and other genres such as science fiction or historical fiction, but boundaries can be, and indeed are, blurred...
.
She has created two mystery novel series, the first featuring 'Detective Chief Inspector 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 Green Grow the Rushes, O
Green Grow the Rushes, O
Green Grow The Rushes, Ho , is a folk song popular across the English-speaking world. It is sometimes sung as a Christmas carol...
.
The second series features 'Rona Parish', a biographer and freelance journalist.
Anthea Fraser served as secretary of the Crime Writers' Association
Crime Writers' Association
The Crime Writers Association is a writers' association in the United Kingdom. Founded by John Creasey in 1953, it is currently chaired by Peter James and claims 450+ members....
from 1986 to 1996. She has also published five novels under the pen name
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
'Vanessa Graham'.
Novels
- Designs of Annabelle, 1971
- Laura Possessed: A Novel of Suspense, 1974
- Home Through the Dark, 1974
- Whistler’s Lane: A Novel of Suspense, 1975
- Breath of Brimstone, 1978
- Presence of Mind, 1978
- Island-in-Waiting, 1979
- The Stone, 1980
- The Macbeth Prophecy, 1995
- Motive for Murder, 1996
- Dangerous Deception, 1998
- Past Shadows, 2001
- Fathers and Daughters, 2002
- Thicker than Water, 2009
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
- I’ll Sing You Two-O (Also published as The Lily-White Boys), 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 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
Novels written under the pen name
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
'Vanessa Graham'
- In the Balance, 1973
- Time on Trial, 1979
- Second Time Around, 1982
- The Stand-In, 1984
- Such Men Are Dangerous, 1988