About the Author: Jan was born in Texas, but has lived in Southern California most of her life, often in coastal cities—several of which combine to make up the fictional Las Piernas, where Irene Kelly works and lives. She comes from a close-knit family, and remains close to not only her parents, her two sisters (neither of whom resemble Irene's sister, Barbara) and brother, but also a wonderful assortment of nephews, nieces, cousins, aunts, and uncles. She and her husband, Tim, share their home with two dogs, Cappy and Britches. Jan's husband is musician Tim Burke, whose bands include Bushtaxi.

Awards: Agatha Award Best Novel nominee (1997) : Hocus
Agatha Award Best Novel nominee (1998) : Liar
Macavity Awards Best Novel nominee (1998) : Hocus
Anthony Awards Best Novel nominee (2000) : Bones
Edgar Awards Best Novel winner (2000) : Bones
Anthony Awards Best Novel nominee (2002) : Flight
Macavity Awards Best Novel nominee (2003) : Nine
Anthony Awards Best Novel nominee (2006) : Bloodlines
Anthony Awards Best Novel nominee (2007) : Kidnapped