Cynthia Sally Haggard was born and reared in Surrey, England. About 30 years ago she surfaced in the United States, settling in the Mid-Atlantic region as she wound her way through four careers: violinist, cognitive scientist, medical writer, and novelist.
In June, 2015, Cynthia graduated with an MFA in Creative Writing from Lesley University, Cambridge MA.
Her first novel, "Thwarted Queen," a frustrating tale (hence the title) of a woman who was nearly crowned Queen of England, was shortlisted for many awards, including the 2012 Eric Hoffer New Horizon Award for debut authors. To date, sales have surpassed 38,000 copies.
Her second novel, "Farewell My Life," a Cinderella-ish tale with not-so-charming princes who inhabit the edgy setting of 1920s and 1930s Berlin during the rise of the Nazis, won a Pinnacle Award for Historical Fiction (2019) and was a Distinguished Favorite for the 2019 New York City Big Book Awards.
Indeed, Mr. Clayton was surrounded by five elegant women, who simpered at his remarks as they played with their fans. I thought of Mr. Clayton, his kisses and his promises, and I […]
Although this novel opens with a horrifying image, it is not filled with violence. Instead it is a braided narrative about two women, mother and daughter, and they ways in which they […]
Everyone, Just wanted to let you know that THWARTED QUEEN won a Gold Medal IPPY Award for her Audiobook version! Lady Cecylee is so very surprised. Don’t those disembodied voices make you […]
What a book! Usually when one reads a volume in which there are three main female characters, it gets very girly, very silly and very superficial very quickly. This does not. Osla […]
He clamped his mouth over mine. “You’re all right now, my love. It always hurts the first time—.” He couldn’t say more, because he was gasping for air, his face hardening into […]
THE OUTCAST DEAD is set in Norwich, at Norwich Castle where many were hanged in the past. Forensic Archaeologist Ruth Galloway is excavating a grave pit of criminals, when she discovers a […]
Before I talk about this highly enjoyable volume, I would like to warn whoever is reading this that DYING FALL is NUMBER FIVE in the Ruth Galloway series. The only site that […]
This is a wonderful novel for Halloween! It opens on Halloween, when Ruth Galloway has been called in to open the coffin of a 14-century bishop, who is an ancestor of the […]
I made a low curtsey and turned to go. “One more thing, my dear.” He put his hand on my arm. “Call me John.” “John,” I breathed. “Yes indeed,” and he kissed […]
This book is a braided narrative alternating between the present day (1996) and the past. Dr. Hanna Heath is an Australian conservator come to Sarajevo to restore the Sarajevo Haggadah, a most […]
The Nightingale is the book that made Kristin Hannah famous. Prior to its publication in February 2015, Ms. Hannah had already been a prolific author, writing 21 novels at the rate of […]
I admit that I was very puzzled by this book. At the beginning, it sounded like a set of linked short stories. Oh well, I said to myself, the author clearly loves […]
“Susan!” he exploded. “You’ve been avoiding me!” My face flamed. What could I say? I certainly couldn’t repeat Martha’s advice. Somehow, all my devising had come to naught. I had to say […]
A house is crumbling into the sea on the north Norfolk coast, taking its secrets with it, when a visiting German archaeologist dies suddenly. He has been stabbed in the heart with […]
Ruth is thrilled. Now forty years old she is finally pregnant. However, to the shock of her born-again Christian parents, she is not married. And when asked who the father is, Ruth […]
I had never encountered this author before (she was recommended to me by my sister) but I very much enjoyed this volume. Elly Griffiths has now written 13 murder mysteries involving archaeologist […]
“But now the doctor has told him she cannot have more children,” whispered Martha. “So he’s turning to you. Men have these physical needs, it’s a fact of life. If they can’t […]
Ken Follett offers up another marvelous story in this volume, about the hunger, cruelty, power politics and Viking raids that beset the small community of Drane’s Ferry (sp? – I only heard […]
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