Vicki Delany
Encyclopedia
Vicki Delany is a Canadian mystery novelist. She is the author of two mystery series, and a member of Crime Writers of Canada
and Capital Crime Writers
. Delany is a frequent panelist at mystery conferences such as Bouchercon
and Malice Domestic in the United States and Bloody Words National Mystery Conference in Canada.
as a computer programmer and systems analyst until retiring in 2007. She now lives in Prince Edward County, Ontario
. She is the mother of three daughters (Caroline, Julia and Alex).
Delany is the author of the Constable Molly Smith mystery series, set in the fictional British Columbia town of Trafalgar (a thinly disguised Nelson, BC), and the Klondike Mystery series, set in Dawson City, Yukon
during the Gold Rush of 1898. She is also the author of three novels of psychological suspense, set in Northern Ontario
.
, which praised Delany's ability to create a tense atmosphere but felt that the mystery elements of the story were not as effective.
In the Shadow of the Glacier was described as "an intriguing series opener" by Publishers Weekly
, which noted that Delany positioned the narrative well to continue into future works.
Valley of the Lost drew both praise and criticism from Kirkus Reviews, which described the novel's protagonists as "interesting" and the first three-quarters of the novel as "ingratiating", but then cited "exceptionally silly plotting" that sabotaged the book's ending.
Gold Digger received positive reviews from several publications. Writing for The Globe and Mail
, Margaret Cannon noted a few anachronistic touches, but praised the novel's "great setting" and described it as "a lot of fun". In a review published in The Hamilton Spectator
, Don Graves lauded the novel as "a captivating tale with lots of colour, ably researched detail and crisp dialogue that moves the story along, spinning into a satisfying, yet surprising, conclusion."
Winter of Secrets was criticized harshly by Kirkus Reviews, which described the novel as "a misstep" and blamed "lumpy prose and [a] none-too-serviceable plot".
Crime Writers of Canada
Crime Writers of Canada is a national organization for Canadian crime writers, founded by Howard Engel.-Arthur Ellis Awards:Its annual awards are the Arthur Ellis Awards. The award statue itself is wooden model of a hanging man. The arms and legs move when the statue's string is pulled.The award is...
and Capital Crime Writers
Capital Crime Writers
Capital Crime Writers is a non-profit mystery writing organization located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It was founded in 1988 by Linda Wiken and Audrey Jessup.CCW has 90 members....
. Delany is a frequent panelist at mystery conferences such as Bouchercon
Bouchercon
Bouchercon, the Anthony Boucher Memorial World Mystery Convention, is an annual convention of creators and devotees of mystery and detective fiction. It is named in honour of writer, reviewer, and editor Anthony Boucher....
and Malice Domestic in the United States and Bloody Words National Mystery Conference in Canada.
Biography
Delany was employed by the Royal Bank of CanadaRoyal Bank of Canada
The Royal Bank of Canada or RBC Financial Group is the largest financial institution in Canada, as measured by deposits, revenues, and market capitalization. The bank serves seventeen million clients and has 80,100 employees worldwide. The company corporate headquarters are located in Toronto,...
as a computer programmer and systems analyst until retiring in 2007. She now lives in Prince Edward County, Ontario
Prince Edward County, Ontario
Prince Edward County is a single-tier municipality and a census division of the Canadian province of Ontario.-Geography:Prince Edward County is located in Southern Ontario on a large irregular headland or littoral at the eastern end of Lake Ontario, just west of the head of the St. Lawrence River...
. She is the mother of three daughters (Caroline, Julia and Alex).
Delany is the author of the Constable Molly Smith mystery series, set in the fictional British Columbia town of Trafalgar (a thinly disguised Nelson, BC), and the Klondike Mystery series, set in Dawson City, Yukon
Dawson City, Yukon
The Town of the City of Dawson or Dawson City is a town in the Yukon, Canada.The population was 1,327 at the 2006 census. The area draws some 60,000 visitors each year...
during the Gold Rush of 1898. She is also the author of three novels of psychological suspense, set in Northern Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
Critical response
Scare the Light Away was the subject of a mixed review by Kirkus ReviewsKirkus Reviews
Kirkus Reviews is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus . Kirkus serves the book and literary trade sector, including libraries, publishers, literary and film agents, film and TV producers and booksellers. Kirkus Reviews is published on the first and 15th of each month...
, which praised Delany's ability to create a tense atmosphere but felt that the mystery elements of the story were not as effective.
In the Shadow of the Glacier was described as "an intriguing series opener" by Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...
, which noted that Delany positioned the narrative well to continue into future works.
Valley of the Lost drew both praise and criticism from Kirkus Reviews, which described the novel's protagonists as "interesting" and the first three-quarters of the novel as "ingratiating", but then cited "exceptionally silly plotting" that sabotaged the book's ending.
Gold Digger received positive reviews from several publications. Writing for The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail is a nationally distributed Canadian newspaper, based in Toronto and printed in six cities across the country. With a weekly readership of approximately 1 million, it is Canada's largest-circulation national newspaper and second-largest daily newspaper after the Toronto Star...
, Margaret Cannon noted a few anachronistic touches, but praised the novel's "great setting" and described it as "a lot of fun". In a review published in The Hamilton Spectator
The Hamilton Spectator
The Hamilton Spectator, founded in 1846, is a newspaper published every day but Sunday in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The paper has a daily circulation of 105,000 and a daily readership of nearly 260,000.-History:...
, Don Graves lauded the novel as "a captivating tale with lots of colour, ably researched detail and crisp dialogue that moves the story along, spinning into a satisfying, yet surprising, conclusion."
Winter of Secrets was criticized harshly by Kirkus Reviews, which described the novel as "a misstep" and blamed "lumpy prose and [a] none-too-serviceable plot".
List of works
- Whiteout, LTD Books, 2001 (reissued 2008 by Worldwide Library)
- Scare the Light Away, Poisoned Pen Press, 2005
- Burden of Memory, Poisoned Pen Press, 2006
- In the Shadow of the Glacier, Poisoned Pen Press, 2007
- Valley of the Lost, Poisoned Pen Press, 2009
- Gold Digger, Rendezvous Crime, 2009
- Winter of Secrets, Poisoned Pen Press, November 2009
- Gold Fever, Rendezvous Crime, 2010
- Negative Image, Poisoned Pen Press, November 2010
- Among the Departed, Poisoned Pen Press, May 2011
External links
- Official Website
- Crime Writers of Canada
- http://www.capitalcrimewriters.com/members/memberprofiles/vickidelany.html Author Vicki Delany profile page - Capital Crime Writers