Twist Phelan
Encyclopedia
Twist Phelan http://www.twistphelan.com writes crime-themed short stories and the critically acclaimed Pinnacle Peak mystery series, published by Poisoned Pen Press
http://www.poisonedpenpress.com.
Twist received her bachelor and law degrees from Stanford University
. Success as a plaintiff’s trial lawyer suing corporate scoundrels allowed her to retire in her early thirties. In addition to writing crime fiction, Twist is a world traveler and endurance sports enthusiast. She has competed in Ironman
triathlons, skate-skied in Scandinavia, team-roped in the American West, paddled surf ski and outrigger canoe
in Australia, rock-climbed in South America, and bicycled from the Pacific to the Atlantic Coast in less than four weeks.
, which are set in the fictional town of Pinnacle Peak, Arizona and feature the attorney/adventure athlete Hannah Dain.
Joe McGuinness, lawyer and team roper, has landed a job with one of Pinnacle Peak’s top firms. But then his boss is killed, putting Joe’s legal career in jeopardy. Soon much more is at stake when two more bodies turn up, and Joe must untangle a web of secrets to exonerate a friend and find out who is using murder to claim the rights of heir apparent.
Hannah is on the verge of leaving her family’s law firm when a real estate deal she’s put together suddenly goes bad. Career on the line, Hannah investigates—despite a disapproving father and antagonistic older sister. Although she exonerates the firm, a car bomb and two murders thwart the police's identification of the culprit behind the scheme. Working on a new deal, assisted by Cooper (the firm's computer consultant and her former lover), Hannah uncovers a greater threat too close to home. Only by exposing family secrets can she save her reputation, her law firm, and her life.
.
As Hannah heads for the cliffs of Pinnacle Peak to climb, she winds up in the middle of a violent anti-Indian protest. She escapes, but makes an enemy. A recent family revelation sends her on a hunt for a missing person, an attraction to a co-worker jeopardizes Hannah’s romantic relationship, and she becomes enmeshed in a kidnapping tied to a securities fraud. Murder ups the ante, compelling Hannah to unravel the scheme and the mystery of her past.
The chance rescue of a drowning woman leads to Hannah’s appointment as lead trial counsel in her sister Shelby’s case, a new friend pulls her into a treasure hunt, and a recently discovered family member unexpectedly shows up at Hannah’s door and threatens her relationship with Shelby. Only by taking a gutsy chance can Hannah expose the conspiracy and unite both halves of her family.
Twist’s essay on one of her literary influences, Margaret Maron
, appears in the collection Mystery Muses: 100 Classics That Inspire Today's Mystery Writers.
Poisoned Pen Press
Poisoned Pen Press is a publisher of hardcover mystery fiction in the United States. It is based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Poisoned Pen Press typically publishes thirty-six new hardcover mysteries per year, thirty-six new large type editions of those hardcovers, and between thirty and forty new trade...
http://www.poisonedpenpress.com.
Biography
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
. Success as a plaintiff’s trial lawyer suing corporate scoundrels allowed her to retire in her early thirties. In addition to writing crime fiction, Twist is a world traveler and endurance sports enthusiast. She has competed in Ironman
Ironman Triathlon
An Ironman Triathlon is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation consisting of a swim, a bike and a marathon run, raced in that order and without a break...
triathlons, skate-skied in Scandinavia, team-roped in the American West, paddled surf ski and outrigger canoe
Outrigger canoe
The outrigger canoe is a type of canoe featuring one or more lateral support floats known as outriggers, which are fastened to one or both sides of the main hull...
in Australia, rock-climbed in South America, and bicycled from the Pacific to the Atlantic Coast in less than four weeks.
The Pinnacle Peak Mystery Series
A different sport figures in each of Twist’s legal-themed mysteriesMystery fiction
Mystery fiction is a loosely-defined term.1.It is often used as a synonym for detective fiction or crime fiction— in other words a novel or short story in which a detective investigates and solves a crime mystery. Sometimes mystery books are nonfiction...
, which are set in the fictional town of Pinnacle Peak, Arizona and feature the attorney/adventure athlete Hannah Dain.
Heir Apparent
Heir Apparent was first published in 2002, with a revised second edition released in 2007.Joe McGuinness, lawyer and team roper, has landed a job with one of Pinnacle Peak’s top firms. But then his boss is killed, putting Joe’s legal career in jeopardy. Soon much more is at stake when two more bodies turn up, and Joe must untangle a web of secrets to exonerate a friend and find out who is using murder to claim the rights of heir apparent.
Family Claims
Family Claims (2004) introduces lawyer-athlete Hannah Dain. The book won Best Mystery, Colorado Gold Writing Contest, and was a Finalist for the Calavera Award.Hannah is on the verge of leaving her family’s law firm when a real estate deal she’s put together suddenly goes bad. Career on the line, Hannah investigates—despite a disapproving father and antagonistic older sister. Although she exonerates the firm, a car bomb and two murders thwart the police's identification of the culprit behind the scheme. Working on a new deal, assisted by Cooper (the firm's computer consultant and her former lover), Hannah uncovers a greater threat too close to home. Only by exposing family secrets can she save her reputation, her law firm, and her life.
Spurred Ambition
Spurred Ambition (2006), in which Hannah takes up rock climbing, was named a “Notable Pick” by Book SenseBook Sense
Book Sense was a marketing and branding program of the American Booksellers Association, in which many independent bookstores across North America participated in order to better compete with the large book chains. Bookstores participating in the Book Sense program were expected to display the Book...
.
As Hannah heads for the cliffs of Pinnacle Peak to climb, she winds up in the middle of a violent anti-Indian protest. She escapes, but makes an enemy. A recent family revelation sends her on a hunt for a missing person, an attraction to a co-worker jeopardizes Hannah’s romantic relationship, and she becomes enmeshed in a kidnapping tied to a securities fraud. Murder ups the ante, compelling Hannah to unravel the scheme and the mystery of her past.
False Fortune
False Fortune (2007), a Rocky Award finalist, finds Hannah kayaking, and in deep water.The chance rescue of a drowning woman leads to Hannah’s appointment as lead trial counsel in her sister Shelby’s case, a new friend pulls her into a treasure hunt, and a recently discovered family member unexpectedly shows up at Hannah’s door and threatens her relationship with Shelby. Only by taking a gutsy chance can Hannah expose the conspiracy and unite both halves of her family.
Other Writings
Twist has published short stories and contributed essays to anthologies, journals, and magazines, including:- “A Trader's Lot” in Wall Street Noir (Akashic Books, 2007) tracks a commodity futures trader’s dizzy ride on Fortune’s roller coaster. "A standout" - Publishers Weekly (starred review). Finalist, Derringer Award (Short Mystery Fiction Society).
- “Crime Wave” (CrimeSpree Magazine, 2007) takes an ironic look at the idea of crime being in the eye of the beholder.
- “Floored” (Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, 2008) set in the natural gas pit of the New York Mercantile ExchangeNew York Mercantile ExchangeThe New York Mercantile Exchange is the world's largest physical commodity futures exchange. It is located at One North End Avenue in the World Financial Center in the Battery Park City section of Manhattan, New York City...
, follows a female broker's introduction to the realities of the male-dominated trading floor, where morality and economics collide.
- “Strange Bedfellows” in Politics Noir (Verso, 2008) is an ironic/darkly funny tale in which characters’ actions circle back so each gets what s/he deserves. "A wise and funny story" -(Dick Adler, Chicago Tribune).
- "The Peahen" (Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, 2008) is an homage to Pete Dexter. Written in Dexter's understated, linear style—much happens that isn't on the page—the story looks at the tension that arises from the influx of things foreign on formerly all-American endeavors.
- "A Stab in the Heart" (Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, 2009) A Holocaust survivor's fatal plunge down a New York tenement stairway evokes a detective's memories of his brutal African past, and forces him to choose between vengeance and justice. Winner, Best Short Story of the Year (International Thriller Writers Association). Finalist, Derringer Award (Short Mystery Fiction Society).
- "Time Will Tell" (Mystery Writers of America Presents The Prosecution Rests, 2009) explores a certain kind of relationship; where is the line between romance and predator/prey? Publishers Weekly (starred review). BY HOOK OR BY CROOK AND 27 MORE OF THE BEST CRIME AND MYSTERY STORIES OF THE YEAR selection. Finalist, Arthur Ellis Award for Best Crime Short Story of the Year (Crime Writers of Canada).
- "Talk to Me" (American Crime Writer's League Presents America Past, America Present, 2009) An antiques dealer hears a voice from the past—or is he dreaming?
- “Happine$$” (Mystery Writers of America Presents The Rich and the Dead, 2011) just might be what is left when a Ponzi-schemer heads off to prison and the Feds confiscate his ill-gotten wealth.
- "I'm Learning" (American Crime Writer's League Presents Murder Here, Murder There, 2012) tells the story of how things can go bad down Mexico way when you’re on the lam with a bag of stolen diamonds, a pair of bloody scissors, and a boyfriend you can’t trust.
Twist’s essay on one of her literary influences, Margaret Maron
Margaret Maron
Margaret Maron is an American writer, the author of award-winning mystery novels.-Biography:Maron was born and grew up in central North Carolina. She has also lived in Italy. She and her husband, artist Joe Maron, lived in Brooklyn before returning to her home state where they now...
, appears in the collection Mystery Muses: 100 Classics That Inspire Today's Mystery Writers.
External links
- Twist Phelan http://www.twistphelan.com
- Poisoned Pen Press http://www.poisonedpenpress.com
- Akashic Books http://www.akashicbooks.com
- CrimeSpree Magazine http://www.crimespreemag.com