Darynda Jones

Darynda Jones has been a storyteller for as long as anyone can remember. At five she was scribbling stories; by elementary school she was writing plays for the neighbourhood kids; and through high school she was daydreaming so persistently that she became a regular in the principal’s office – though many of those daydreams were becoming novels.

Life took her on a winding path before publishing caught up. She married a local rock star, had children, and when her eldest son was born Deaf, she moved the family to Albuquerque, New Mexico, so he could attend a specialised programme. While there, she returned to college and graduated Summa cum Laude from the University of New Mexico with a degree in Sign Language Interpreting.

“I write the kinds of books I want to read – ones that make you laugh, make you cry, and make you want to throat-punch the villain.”

It was the thirteen-book Charley Davidson series that first brought Jones to national attention. Blending paranormal romance, sharp humour, and mystery, the series follows a Grim Reaper who moonlights as a private investigator. It earned Jones both a Golden Heart and a RITA Award, a Daphne du Maurier Award, and became a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.

With the Sunshine Vicram series, Jones pivoted to cosy mystery territory and proved she could be just as compelling without the paranormal. Set in the small town of Del Sol, New Mexico, the books follow Sunshine “Sunny” Vicram, a newly elected sheriff who must solve crimes while untangling the mystery of her own abduction as a teenager.

Quick Facts

• Breakthrough: Charley Davidson series (13 books)
• Awards: Golden Heart, RITA, Daphne du Maurier Award
• Bestseller status: New York Times and USA Today
• Education: Summa cum Laude, University of New Mexico
• Setting: The American Southwest (New Mexico)
• Range: Paranormal romance to cosy mystery

Whether writing about Grim Reapers or small-town sheriffs, Jones brings an infectious energy to the page – unforgettable characters, crackling dialogue, and a deep affection for the quirky, tight-knit communities of the Southwest.