Linda Barnes is a writer and educator. She was born in Detroit, Michigan. Barnes graduated from Boston University's School of Fine and Applied Arts majoring in acting, theater education, and English. After graduation, Barnes taught theater in a Massachusetts high school. She wrote a one-act play that won a contest sponsored by the Boston Globe. The play Wings was published and performed across the country. Barnes' first crime novel was published in 1981 and featured an amateur detective named Michael Spraggue. She continued with a series of books that featured Spraggue until a short story featured a new detective named Carlotta Carlyle. The first book in that series, A Trouble of Fools, won the American Mystery Award for best private eye novel of 1987. Barnes won the Anthony Award for Best Short Story for Lucky Penny in 1986. Some of her other works include Deep Pockets, Heart Of The World and Lie Down With The Devil.