Laraine Stephens

After nearly forty years of working as a teacher-librarian and Head of Library, Laraine Stephens decided to experience life on the other side of the bookshelves and became a writer of historical crime fiction. Her debut novel, The Death Mask Murders, the first in the Reggie da Costa Mysteries, was published in 2021 by Level Best Books. Deadly Intent, A Deadly Game and Lies and Deception followed. Laraine now has a six-book contract with Level Best Books.

Authenticity is very important to Laraine. It isn’t easy to shrug off nearly forty years of teacher-librarianship! By taking on a new career, as a writer of historical crime fiction, it was in her DNA to be as authentic as she could in giving an accurate setting to The Reggie da Costa Mysteries. Her interest in crime and punishment comes from being a teacher for nearly 40 years!

Apart from writing, she enjoys golf, Mahjong and travelling to exotic places.

Laraine lives in Beaumaris, a bayside suburb of Melbourne, Australia, with her husband, Bob, and her maladjusted red toy poodle, Zoe.