Lyn Hamilton was born on August 6, 1944. She attended the University of Toronto. She worked in communications in both the public and private sectors before publishing her first novel at the age of 50. She was director of the Cultural Programs Branch for the province of Ontario and director of public affairs for the Canadian Opera Company. She taught mystery writing for the School for Continuing Studies at the University of Toronto. Her first novel, The Xibalba Murders, was published in 1997. She wrote the Archaeological Mysteries series. The Celtic Riddle became a made-for-TV movie starring Angela Lansbury. She died of cancer on September 10, 2009 at the age of 65.