Frances McNamara books

Frances McNamara is the author of the Emily Cabot Mysteries, a historical mystery series set in late 19th and early 20th century Chicago.

Emily Cabot Mysteries Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Death at the Fair 2009 Buy
Death at Hull House 2009 Buy
Death at Pullman 2011 Buy
Death at Woods Hole 2012 Buy
Death at Chinatown 2014 Buy
Death at the Paris Exposition 2016 Buy
Death at the Selig Studios 2018 Buy
Death on the Homefront 2022 Buy
Death in a Time of Spanish Flu 2022 Buy

Frances McNamara grew up in Boston, where her father served as Police Commissioner. She holds degrees from Mount Holyoke and Simmons Colleges and formerly worked as a librarian at the University of Chicago. She is a member of Sisters in Crime New England and Mystery Writers of America New England.

Her Emily Cabot Mysteries follow a young woman in late 19th and early 20th century Chicago as she becomes entangled in murder investigations against the backdrop of real historical events. The series draws on McNamara’s knowledge of Chicago’s history, weaving actual places and figures into each story. The books take Emily from the 1893 World’s Fair through the early decades of the twentieth century.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Frances McNamara written?

Frances McNamara has written nine books in one series.

What was Frances McNamara's first book?

Frances McNamara’s first book is Death at Hull House, published in 2009.

What inspired Frances McNamara to write historical mysteries?

McNamara grew up in Boston, where her father served as Police Commissioner for ten years. She later worked as a librarian at the University of Chicago, giving her firsthand knowledge of the city and its history. The Emily Cabot Mysteries draw on real events and locations from Chicago’s past, including the 1893 World’s Fair and Hull House.

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