Phyllis A. Whitney moved around quite a bit during her youth, from Japan to China, the Philippines, and the United States. Her first novel, for adolescents, was A Place for Ann (1942). Winner of the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America, Whitney mixes an intriguing blend of mystery and romance that has kept her fans happy for many years. Often her stories have the feel of Gothic thrillers, with brooding castles and old family secrets hidden away. Often her protagonists are strong, even liberated, women who are intent on uncovering the mysteries. Whitney, who loves writing, strives to create escapist plots but balances them with realistic female characters with whom her… readers can identify.